[Opioid receptor interactions of butorphanol, a narcotic antagonist analgesic, and its metabolites]

The Opioid receptor affinities of butorphanol (BT) and its main metabolites, norbutorphanol (NB) and hydroxybutorphanol (HB), were determined by an in vitro receptor binding assay using crude synaptosomal membrane preparations of rat brain. BT showed high affinities to all types of the receptor except the alpha type (phencyclidine binding site), resulting in displacements of the bindings of mu (dihydromorphine)-, delta (D-Ala2-D-Leu5-enkephalin)- and kappa (ethylketocyclazocine)-ligands with more potency than morphine and ketocyclazocine, and it preferentially bound to mu- and kappa-opioid receptors. NB bound to the mu-binding site with affinity higher than that of pentazocine and to the kappa-binding site with the lowest affinity. HB exclusively bound to the mu-binding site with lower affinity. The affinities of BT, NB, HB and morphine to the alpha-site were smaller than those of pentazocine and ketocyclazocine. In the presence of 100 mM NaCl or by treating with 500 microM 5,5'-dithiobis (2-nitrobenzoic acid), the binding capacity of the membrane preparation was altered, and BT behaved as a typical antagonist. NB showed an agonistic property, and HB behaved as an antagonist. BT appears to be a mu-opioid receptor antagonist and has a kappa-receptor agonist-like character.