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[Antiarrhythmic properties of opioid receptor agonists]

L N Maslov, Iu B Lishmanov

    Eksperimental'Naia I Klinicheskaia Farmakologiia
    |September 26, 2006
    PubMed

    Insights

    Opioid receptor (OR) agonists show antiarrhythmic properties, enhancing cardiac tolerance to arrhythmias. Certain OR subtypes may offer therapeutic potential for treating heart rhythm disorders.

    Area of Science:

    • Pharmacology
    • Cardiology
    • Neuroscience

    Background:

    • Opioid receptors (OR) play a role in cardiovascular regulation.
    • Previous studies suggest a link between opioid signaling and cardiac function.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To systematize data on the antiarrhythmic properties of opioid receptor agonists.
    • To analyze the effects of various opioid receptor subtypes on cardiac tolerance to arrhythmias.

    Main Methods:

    • Systematic review and analysis of published in vivo and in vitro studies.
    • Investigation of central and peripheral opioid receptor activation effects.

    Main Results:

    • Activation of central micro-, delta-OR, and ORL1 receptors increased cardiac tolerance to arrhythmogenic agents.
    • Activation of central kappa-OR exacerbated epinephrine-induced arrhythmias.
    • Stimulation of peripheral delta2- and kappa1-OR reduced arrhythmias during coronary artery occlusion and reperfusion.
    • Peripheral micro-, kappa2-, delta1-OR, and ORL1 receptors did not affect ischemia/reperfusion tolerance but improved electrical stability in post-infarction cardiosclerosis models.

    Conclusions:

    • Opioid receptor agonists exhibit significant antiarrhythmic effects.
    • Specific opioid receptor subtypes demonstrate differential modulation of cardiac arrhythmias.
    • Opioids that do not cross the blood-brain barrier may be promising therapeutic agents for arrhythmias.

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