The effects of long-term treatment of NG108-15 cells with penta- and tetrapeptide enkephalin dimers on opioid receptor binding and cyclic AMP (cAMP) levels.

1. The effects of chronic treatment with a dimeric or monomeric penta- or tetrapeptide enkephalin analogue on binding and cyclic AMP (cAMP) accumulation in NG108-15 cells have been studied. 2. When the cells were cultured in the presence of 1 mumol of a pentapeptide analogue (dimer or monomer) for up to 96 hr, binding was reduced by greater than or equal to 90%. 3. In contrast, in the presence of 1 mumol of a tetrapeptide analogue (dimer or monomer), binding was reduced by only less than or equal to 30%. 4. The analogues had varying effects on regulation of cAMP formation. Desensitization, indicated by impaired opioid-mediated inhibition of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1)-stimulated cAMP accumulation, was clearly apparent only for cells pretreated with [D-Ala2,D-Leu5]enkephalin (DADLE), while cells pretreated with [D-Ala2,Leu5-NH-CH2-]2 (DPE2) showed minor impairment. 5. Thus, ligand dimerization appeared to have a modulating effect on regulation of adenylate cyclase activity but not to affect opioid-induced down-regulation.