Enhancement of [3H]DAGO1 binding to rat brain by low concentrations of monovalent cations

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Abstract
The effects of mono- and di-valent cations and the nonhydrolyzable guanyl nucleotide derivative 5′-guanylimidodiphosphate (Gpp(NH)p) on the binding of the selective, high affinity μ-opiate receptor agonist, [3H]DAGO ([3H]Tyr-D-Ala-Gly-Mephe-Gly-ol), to rat brain membranes were studied in a low ionic strength 5 mM Tris–HCl buffer. Na+ and Li+ (50 mM) maximally increased [3H]DAGO binding (EC50 values for Na+,2.9 mM and Li, 6.2 mM) by revealing a population of low affinity binding sites. The density of high affinity [3H]DAGO binding sites was unaffected by Na+ and Li+, but was maximally increased by 50 mM K+ and Rb+ (EC50 values for K+, 8.5 mM and Rb+, 12.9 mM). Divalent cations (Ca2+, Mg2+; 50 mM) inhibited [3H]DAGO binding. Gpp(NH)p decreased the affinity of [3H]DAGO binding, an effect that was enhanced by Na+ but not by K+. The binding of the μ-agonist [3H]dihydromorphine was unaffected by 50 mM Na+ in 5 mM Tris–HCl. In 50 mM Tris–HCl, Na+ (50 mM) inhibited [3H]DAGO binding by decreasing the density of high affinity binding sites and promoting low affinity binding. The effects of Na+ in 5 mM and 50 mM Tris–HCl were also investigated on the binding of other opiate receptor agonists and antagonists. [3H]D-Ala-D-Leu-enkephalin binding was increased and inhibited, [3H]etorphine binding increased and was unchanged, and both [3H]bremazocine and [3H]naloxone binding increased by 50 mM Na+ in 5 mM and 50 mM Tris–HCl, respectively. These findings indicate that the in vitro effects of Na+ at μ- and possibly other opiate receptors in rat brain are dependent on the concentration of Tris–HCl used in the assay buffer, lower concentrations of Tris-HCl revealing novel regulatory effects for Na+ at μ-opiate receptors.