Direct and indirect inhibition by nociceptin/orphanin FQ on noradrenaline release from rodent cerebral cortex in vitro

1 The modulation exerted by nociceptin/orphanin FQ (NC) on noradrenaline (NE) release in rodent cerebral cortex slices and synaptosomes was studied. 2 Rat, mouse and guinea-pig cortical slices and synaptosomes were preincubated with 0.1 micro M [(3)H]-NE and superfused. NE release was evoked by 2 min of electrical (3 Hz) stimulation in slices and by 1 min pulse of 10 mM KCl in synaptosomes. 3 In rat cortical slices, 0.01-3 micro M NC reduced the evoked [(3)H]-NE efflux (E(max)-54%), with a bell-shaped concentration-response curve, which regained its monotonic nature in the presence of either 0.1 micro M naloxone (NX) or 30 micro M bicuculline. In synaptosomes, the NC effect curve was sygmoidal in shape and reached a plateau at 1 micro M concentration. 4 In the rat, both 1 micro M [Phe(1)psi(CH(2)-NH)Gly(2)]NC(1-13)NH(2) and 10 micro M [Nphe(1)]NC(1-13)NH(2) (NPhe) antagonised NC-induced inhibition, without per se modifying [(3)H]-NE efflux. The effects of 0.3-1 micro M NC concentrations were partially prevented by 1 micro M NX; 1 micro M D-Phe-Cys-Thr-D-Trp-Orn-Thr-Pen-Thr-NH(2) (CTOP) was also an effective antagonist, but 0.1 micro M norbinaltorphimine was not. 5 In the mouse cerebral cortex, NC-induced inhibition of NE release (pEC(50) 6.87, E(max)-61%, in the slices) was prevented by Nphe but was NX-insensitive. In guinea-pig cortical slices, NC effect (pEC(50) 6.22, E(max)-38%) was prevented by Nphe, but was NX-insensitive. 6 These findings demonstrate that NC inhibits NE release from rodent cerebral cortex via presynaptically located ORL(1) receptors. In the rat, micro opioid and GABA(A) receptors are involved as well.