Interaction of synthetic peptide octarphin with rat myocardium membranes

A selective agonist of non-opioid β-endorphin receptor synthetic peptide octarphin (TPLVTLFK, specific activity 28 Ci/mmol) was prepared. The [3H]octarphin binding to rat myocardium membranes before and after experimental myocardial infarction (EMI) was studied. It was found that [3H]octarphin with high affinity and specificity binds to non-opioid β-endorphin receptor of rat myocardium membranes before EMI: K(d1) value of the [3H]octarphin specific binding to membranes was 1.8 ± 0.2 nM. In 3 h after EMI a sharp lowering in affinity of the binding is observed (K(d2) = 13.3 ± 0.4 nM), and in 48 h its almost complete restoration (K(d4) = 2.2 ± 0.3 nM). The results indicate participation of non-opioid β-endorphin receptor in the regulation of myocardial activity.