PMID: 3754280Apr 1, 1986Paper

GABAergic regulation of enkephalin in rat striatum: alterations in Met5-enkephalin level, precursor content and preproenkephalin messenger RNA abundance

The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
S P Sivam, J S Hong

Abstract

The influence of chronic activation of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) system on Met5-enkephalin (ME) biosynthesis was investigated in male rats. Activation of GABA system was achieved by raising the brain GABA concentration with aminooxyacetic acid (AOAA) or gabaculine which inhibits GABA-transaminase the enzyme responsible for the catabolism of GABA. After a regimen of repeated administration of AOAA (80 mg/kg/day for 8 days), the GABA concentration in the striatum could be maintained 2-fold greater than control value. AOAA decreased the ME levels in the striatum in a dose (20, 40 and 80 mg/kg)- and time (1-, 2-, 4- and 8-day treatment(s)-dependent fashion. Gabaculine also decreased the ME level in the striatum. Changes in ME level were not observed in other brain regions such as hypothalamus, hippocampus, frontal cortex and medulla/pons. In order to understand the mechanism involved in the decrease in ME level, the biosynthesis of ME was assessed. The preproenkephalin messenger RNA abundance was quantitated by RNA-complementary DNA hybridization technique; the total RNA was isolated, dot-blotted and hybridized with a nick-translated complementary DNA probe from rat brain. Administration of AOAA (80 mg/kg/day) for 8 days incre...Continue Reading

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