Short communication
Ontogenesis of δ-opioid receptors in rat brain using [3H][D-Pen2,D-Pen5]enkephalin as a binding ligand

https://doi.org/10.1016/0014-2999(86)90780-6Get rights and content

Abstract

The ontogenesis of δ-opioid receptors has been studied in the postnatal period up to day 50 using the highly selective δ-site ligand [3H][D-Pen2,D-Pen5]enkephalin ([3H]DPDPE) in binding studies. Analyses of saturation curves revealed marked increases in binding capacities between the second and fourth postnatal week with little change in affinity. In contrast to findings with [3H][D-Ala2,D-Leu5]enkephalin binding could not be detected before postnatal day 10 which may be associated with the low affinity and specific activity of DPDPE. A low specific binding for [3H]DPDPE poses methodological problems in the use of this ligand for ontogenic studies.

References (9)

There are more references available in the full text version of this article.

Cited by (49)

  • ∂-Opioid modulation of social interactions in juvenile mice weaned at different ages

    2001, Physiology and Behavior
    Citation Excerpt :

    In particular, weaning appears to be a critical element in initiating in the rat the transition from μ- to ∂-opioid receptor regulation of behavioral pain responses, in that such a transition can be delayed by between 5 and 10 days by delaying weaning age [15,17,26]. Actually, there is clear evidence that opioid receptor subtypes exhibit a divergent ontogeny, with μ-receptors appearing mostly prenatally in the brain and ∂-receptors developing up to the fourth postnatal week [21,29,36]. Such a delayed period of postnatal organization lends the ∂-system a high level of plasticity, allowing it to be open to early external influences.

  • Exposure to perinatal morphine promotes developmental changes in rat striatum

    1996, International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience
View all citing articles on Scopus
View full text