Modulation of bovine adrenal gland secretion by etorphine and diprenorphine

Retrograde perfusion was used to investigate the effect of an opiate agonist and an opiate antagonist on the release of catecholamines and [Met5]-enkephalin immunoreactive material (ME-IRM) from bovine adrenal glands. Etorphine (5 X 10(-7) M) inhibited the spontaneous outflow of ME-IRM by approximately 10 percent but had no significant effect on the spontaneous catecholamine release. Acetylcholine (ACh, 5 X 10(-5) M) or 1,1-dimethyl-4-phenylpiperazinium (DMPP, 5 X 10(-5) M) stimulated release of ME-IRM and catecholamines was significantly decreased by the addition of etorphine. Diprenorphine (5 X 10(-7) M) had no significant effect on the spontaneous outflow of either ME-IRM or catecholamines. Diprenorphine reversed the inhibition of the DMPP-stimulated release caused by etorphine. After submaximal stimulation of the gland with DMPP (1 X 10(-5) M), a further stimulation of release of ME-IRM and catecholamines was observed after the addition of diprenorphine alone, i.e., in the absence of etorphine. These results provide further evidence supporting the contention that opiates modulate the secretion of catecholamines and ME-IRM from the adrenal gland.