Effects of N-LAAM on [3H]etorphine binding in neuronal-enriched cell cultures.

Stereospecific [3H]etorphine binding sites are present in neuronal-enriched cell cultures dissociated from 7-day-old chick embryonic brain. Moreover, binding was regulated by both ions and GTP in a manner similar to that of in vivo brain tissue. When cultures were exposed to N-LAAM (10(-6) M) from day 6 to day 7 or 8 and assayed for binding at day 8, Bmax was decreased and KD was increased. These findings support our view that primary neuronal cultures are a suitable model with which to study interactions of drugs with opiate receptors.