Activation of delta-opioid receptors reduces excitatory input to putative gustatory cells within the nucleus of the solitary tract.

ABSTRACT: The rostral nucleus of the solitary tract (NST) is the first central relay in the gustatory pathway and plays a key role in processing and modulation of gustatory information. Here, we investigated the effects of opioid receptor agonists and antagonists on synaptic responses of the gustatory parabrachial nuclei (PbN)-projecting neurons in the rostral NST to electrical stimulation of the solitary tract (ST) using whole cell recordings in the hamster brain stem slices. ST-evoked excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) were significantly reduced by met-enkephalin (MetE) in a concentration-dependent fashion and this effect was eliminated by naltrexone hydrochloride, a nonselective opioid receptor antagonist. Bath application of naltrindole hydrochloride, a selective delta-opioid receptor anta

SUBMITTER: Zhu M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2637018 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature