Antagonistic effect of compound 48/80 on the inhibitory actions of morphine and methionine-enkephalin on electrically-induced contractions of the guinea-pig ileum.

1 The effect of compound 48/80 was studied on the twitch-like contractions of the longitudinal muscle of guinea-pig ileum induced by electrical stimulation of intramural cholinergic nerves. 2 Compound 48/80 alone, at concentrations up to 30 microgram/ml, had no effect on the twitch contractions. The contraction to exogenously applied acetylcholine was slightly depressed by the compound. 3 At 100 microgram/ml, compound 48/80 caused a weak but long-lasting increase in tone and irregular contractile activity in the ileum, part of which was reduced but not completely abolished by pretreatment with chlorpheniramine (1 muM) or by repeated applications of compound 48/80. 4 The inhibitory effects of morphine and methionine-enkephalin on the twitches were antagonized by the presence of compound 48/80 (3 to 30 microgram/ml), possibly in a competitive manner. The antagonism was not affected by pretreatment with the antihistaminics, chlorpheniramine and/or metiamide. 5 The inhibitory effects of noradrenaline and adrenaline on the twitches were slightly but significantly increased by the presence of compound 48/80 (10 or 30 microgram/ml), whereas that of ATP was not modified. 6 Thesese results indicate that compound 48/80 acts as a selective and competitive antagonist at opiate receptors located in the intramural cholinergic nerves of guinea-pig ileum.