Opioid receptor subtypes involved in the central inhibition of urinary bladder motility

Intracerebroventricular morphine consistently inhibited spontaneous urinary bladder contractions recorded from the anesthetized rat. This effect was reversed by naloxone and appeared to be exerted within the forebrain. Neither dynorphin-(1-13) nor U-50, 488 (kappa-agonists) affected bladder motility. Ethylketocyclazocine inhibited contractions only at higher doses, possibly due to mu-receptor interactions. Bladder activity was consistently inhibited by the mu-agonists morphiceptin and [D-Ala2, MePhe4, Gly-(ol)5]enkephalin (DAGO) and by [D-Ala2, D-Leu5]enkephalin (DADLE, delta-agonist). DAGO was the most potent compound tested. These observations support the involvement of mu- and possibly delta-receptors in the centrally mediated inhibition of urinary bladder motility by opioids.