Enkephalin analogs and dermorphin in the conscious dog: structure-activity relationships.

Those structural features of enkephalins (ENK) responsible for in vitro organ bath and receptor binding activity have been investigated in detail in the conscious, chronically instrumented dog. Amide analogs of Leu5-ENK display reduced activity, which is restored by D-Ala2 substitutions. N-terminal L-Tyr is required for full opiate activity. Although proven delta-receptor agonists do appear generally more active, distinctions made in vitro between mu and delta binding are not apparent in the complex hemodynamic responses which occur in the intact unanesthetized dog. The amphibian skin peptide dermorphin, which contains D-Ala2, elevates heart rate, systemic arterial pressure, and induces vomiting with near maximal activity at a dose of 1.0 microgram/kg; this activity is inhibited by naloxone. This activity, coupled with dermorphin's apparent presence in mammalian tissue, suggests that it may represent another peptide factor in cardiovascular regulation. In the conscious dog, ENK elevate heart rate and systemic arterial pressure; this activity does not appear to be fully explained by in vitro receptor models.