Reexamination of opioid stimulation of cGMP formation in cell lines of neuronal origin.

1. The present study reexamines a previous notion on opioid stimulation of cyclic GMP (cGMP) formation and the retraction of the original findings. 2. The effect of opioid agonists on cGMP accumulation in two cell lines of neuronal origin was measured. The proportion of cGMP stimulation in NG108-15 neuroblastoma x glioma hybrid cells resembled the proportion of [Ca2+]in elevation by opioids in this culture. The failure of opioids to stimulate cGMP formation in SK-N-SH human neuroblastoma coincided with the lack of cGMP stimulation by other Ca2+ mobilizing agents in these cells. The nitric oxide donor nitroprusside elevated cGMP in both cell lines. 3. The implication of the opioid-Ca(2+)-NO-cGMP cellular pathway for opioid activity in vivo is discussed.