Inhibition of microglial egress in excised ganglia by human interleukin 10: implications for its activity in invertebrates.

We studied the effects of recombinant human interleukin-10 (IL-10) on invertebrate immunocytes and microglia. The present report demonstrates that the spontaneous activation of invertebrate immunocytes can be specifically inhibited by recombinant human IL-10. Induced immunocyte activation by fMLP can also be significantly diminished by IL-10.

Morphine coupling to invertebrate immunocyte nitric oxide release is dependent on intracellular calcium transients.

Morphine significantly stimulated invertebrate immunocyte intracellular calcium level increases in a concentration-dependent manner in cells preloaded with Fura 2/AM. Morphine's action was blocked by prior exposure of the cells to the opiate receptor antagonist naloxone. Various opioid peptides did not exhibit this ability, indicating a morphine-mu 3 mediated process.

Endomorphin-1 and -2 inhibit human vascular sympathetic norepinephrine release: lack of interaction with mu 3 opiate receptor subtype.

Aim: To determine if endomorphin-1 (End-1) and -2 (End-2) interact with mu 3 opiate receptor subtype and in this way cause vascular hypotension.

Methods: Amperometric nitric oxide (NO) determinations associated with opiate binding displacement analysis and preloaded [3H]norepinephrine KCl stimulated release in human vascular tissues from sympathetic nerve fibers in vitro.

Results: The endomorphins did not release NO from human monocytes, granulocytes, saphenous vein, and internal thoracic artery endothelium and did not displace opiate alkaloid binding to mu 3 receptor.

Substance abuse and HIV-gp120: are opiates protective?

There has long been a popular conceptual linkage between human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) acquisition and substance abuse involving "needles". Indeed, in vitro studies demonstrate that these substances promote the replication of HIV. Included in these in vitro studies is a linkage or association of tissue damage and viral load with the actions HIV envelope protein gp120 with substances of abuse.

Morphine stimulates nitric oxide release from invertebrate microglia.

Morphine stimulates nitric oxide (NO) release in human endothelial cells. To determine whether this mechanism also occurs in invertebrates, the mussel Mytilus edulis was studied. Exposure of excised ganglia to morphine for 24 h resulted in a significant dose-dependent decrease in microglial egress that was naloxone sensitive.

The presence of the mu3 opiate receptor in invertebrate neural tissues.

A previous report demonstrated the presence of the newly discovered opiate alkaloid selective and opioid peptide insensitive mu3 receptor in ganglia of several invertebrate- and one vertebrate species as well as in microglial cells that had egressed from these ganglia after their maintenance in culture medium for several days. In the present study carried out in two representatives of invertebrates, the binding densities of this receptor determined in intact ganglia were compared with those in ganglia depleted of microglial cells. The aim was to ascertain whether the differences in binding capacity recorded in those two groups of ganglia might give an indication of the possible presence of this opiate receptor in nonmicroglial components of the nervous tissue, i.

Opioid and opiate immunoregulatory processes.

The discovery of the ability of the nervous system to communicate through "public" circuits with other systems of the body is attributed to Ernst and Berta Scharrer, who described the neurosecretory process in 1928. Indeed, the immune system has been identified as another important neuroendocrine target tissue. Opioid peptides are involved in this communication (i.

Schistosoma mansoni: the presence and potential use of opiate-like substances.

The present study demonstrates that morphine- and codeine-like molecules are present in Schistosoma mansoni following HPLC separation and identification with an appropriate commercially available antibody. Furthermore, the endogenous material, corresponding to morphine, mimics authentic morphine in its ability to induce immunocyte rounding and immobility, an action that is naloxone sensitive. The codeine-like material is not found at high concentrations compared to the morphine-like material, indicating, as in mammals and Mytilus edulis, the potential rapid conversion of codeine to morphine.

The biology of deception: the reluctance to accept the cognitive animal.

Cognitive ability did not appear de novo in man. Despite our ability to recognize limited cognitive behavioral characteristics in animals, there has been no outcry to proclaim this phenomenon. Man's image of himself solely possessing cognition has taken advantage of the illusory potential in intersubjectivity and placed him outside of reality.

The biology of deception: the evolution of cognitive coping as a denial-like process.

We speculate that the development of cognitive processes provided such endowed animals with an additional coping strategy in dealing with stress. This ability depends on a unifying consciousness appearing to control or regulate the many individual processes that potentially summate to make up the mind. Without this unifying component, the significance and uniqueness of this coping strategy would be lost.

Naltrindole sensitive delta 2 opioid receptor mediates invertebrate immunocyte activation.

Previous studies demonstrated the presence of a delta 2 opioid receptor on human and invertebrate immunocytes. The present study demonstrates that this new binding site regulates invertebrate immunocyte activation. In the present study we note that the select delta antagonist, naltrindole, at a low concentration (10(-11) M), can significantly inhibit DAMA induced activation.

The biology of deception: emotion and morphine.

The biology of deception suggests that denial-like processes are at the core of the cognitive coping. In this regard, with cognitive ability, one associates or assumes that this process occurs by way of a 'rational' mind. Such a detailed cognitive process as being rational would also lead, counter intuitively, to inactivity and or major delays in conclusion reaching.

Selective effects of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) gp120 on invertebrate neurons.

1. HIV gp120 selectively reduces the glutamate-induced inward current and the acetylcholine-induced outward current in specific and identified Aplysia neurons without affecting dopamine (DA)- and serotonin (5-HT)-induced responses. 2.