Opioid receptor desensitization in NG 108-15 cells. Differential effects of a full and a partial agonist on the opioid-dependent GTPase.

Opioid-receptor binding and the opioid-mediated stimulation of low Km GTPase and inhibition of adenylate cyclase were studied in membranes derived from NG 108-15 cells pretreated with either the opioid peptide [D-Ala2, D-Leu5]enkephalin (DADLE) or morphine. Pretreatment with DADLE resulted in a concentration-dependent loss of responsiveness of GTPase to the peptide; this effect was entirely accounted for by a reduction in the maximal stimulation produced acutely by DADLE, without changes in the EC50 of the peptide, indicating a non-competitive type of desensitization. The degree of desensitization of GTPase was similar after one and 24 hr of pretreatment with DADLE, indicating that the process occurs rapidly. In contrast, morphine, which was 70-80% as potent as DADLE in stimulating GTPase and inhibiting adenylate cyclase in acute conditions, induced only a minimal desensitization of the opioid-GTPase system and, in contrast to DADLE, did not desensitize adenylate cyclase. Pretreatment with DADLE for one hour led to a decrease in opioid receptor density which was quantitatively similar to the degree of desensitization of GTPase: both these effects of DADLE were antagonized to a similar extent when morphine was also present in the pretreatment. Thus, desensitization of the opioid-stimulated GTPase appears to be correlated with down-regulation of the opioid receptor. Moreover, these findings suggest that partial agonists cannot induce this process.