NEUROPEPTIDE FF (FLFQPQRF-NH2) IN BRAIN AND SPINAL CORD--FUNCTION & DISTRIBUTION

神经肽FF(FlFQPQRF-NH2)最初是从牛中分离出来的 并被发现具有吗啡调节活性。最近有一些 研究表明神经肽FF(NPFF)与吗啡有关 节制和宽容。在本研究中，内源性NPFF在 使用NPFF抗体作为特异性抗体进一步评估阿片类药物依赖 对抗者。通过吗啡使其对鸦片成瘾的大鼠 微丸，同时接受脑室注射抗NPFIg或 控制免疫球蛋白。纳洛酮诱导的戒断症状明显减少 在接受抗NPFG治疗的组中， 控制免疫球蛋白。NPFF在脑内神经末梢高度定位 脑下垂体后叶。大鼠垂体后叶的灌流 证明NPFF可以通过去极化从脑下垂体释放 KCI浓度。使用这个脑下垂体后叶作为模型，我们有 发现纳洛酮可导致NPFF从血管内显著释放 吗啡预处理大鼠的脑垂体。NPFF的金额 释放量似乎随着剂量和持续时间的增加而增加 吗啡治疗。结果强烈表明NPFF释放 可参与纳洛酮催促阿片类药物戒断。按顺序 进一步研究NPFF在阿片类药物戒断和戒断中的可能作用 耐受性，人们开始尝试分离特定的cdna克隆。 对于NPFF前体蛋白。我们目前还在隔离其他人 来自肾上腺和胰腺的NPF样多肽，目的是 从化学和生物学两个方面对它们进行表征。

Neuropeptide FF (FLFQPQRF-NH2) was originally isolated from the bovine brain and found to have morphine modulating activity. Recently there are studies suggesting the involvement of neuropeptide FF (NPFF) in morphine abstinence and tolerance. In this study the role of endogenous NPFF in opiate dependence was further assessed using NPFF antibody as a specific antagonist. Rats, which were rendered dependent to opiate by morphine pellets, simultaneously received icv infusions of anti-NPFF IgG or control IgG. Naloxone induced abstinence signs were significantly lower in the group treated with anti-NPFF IgG than the group treated with control IgG. NPFF is highly localized in nerve terminals in the posterior pituitary. Superfusion of posterior lobes of rat pituitaries demonstrated that NPFF can be released from the pituitary by depolarizing concentration of KCI. Using this posterior pituitary as a model, we have found that naloxone can cause a significant release of NPFF from the pituitary of the rat pretreated with morphine. The amounts of NPFF released seem to increase with increasing dose and duration of the morphine treatment. The results strongly indicate that release of NPFF may participate in the naloxone precipitated opiate withdrawal. In order to further study the possible role of NPFF in opiate withdrawal and tolerance, work was initiated to attempt to isolate a specific cDNA clone for NPFF precursor protein. We are also currently isolating other NPFF-like peptides from adrenal and pancreatic glands with the aim of characterizing them both chemically and biologically.