Kappa-opioid receptors on astrocytes stimulate L-type Ca2+ channels

Cultured astrocytes from the cerebral cortex of the rat respond to opioid kappa-receptor stimulation with a substantial elevation of the cytoplasmic free calcium, visualized through the use of the fluorescent calcium indicator Fura-2. The stimulation of kappa-receptors with U-50488H increases the level of calcium through a dose-related stimulatory effect on the transmembrane calcium influx. The kappa-receptor stimulation was completely blocked by the selective kappa-receptor blocker nor-binaltorphimine. Furthermore, the transmembrane calcium influx was completely blocked by nifedipine, indicating the involvement of L-type channels. The presence of L-type channels was verified by stimulation of L-type channels with Bay K8644. The effects of Bay K8644 were completely blocked by nifedipine. L-type channel-coupled kappa-receptors on astrocytes might represent a novel mechanism contributing to the depressant action of opioids on synaptic transmission via decreasing the availability of extracellular calcium necessary for presynaptic transmitter release.