Effects of the acute administration of delta-opioid receptor ligands on the excitability of rat hippocampal glutamate and brainstem monoamine neurons in vivo

It was previously reported that the delta opioid receptor (DOR) agonist SNC80 and antagonist naltrindole modulate the excitability of hippocampal glutamate neurons in primary cultures. The present study aimed to investigate the acute effects of these ligands on the firing activity of hippocampal (LC) noradrenaline, and ventral tegmental area (VTA) dopamine neurons in in vivo conditions. Adult Wistar male rats were used. SNC80 and naltrindole were administered intravenously. Neuronal firing activity was assessed using extracellular single-unit electrophysiology. SNC80, administered first at 1-3 mg/kg, dose-dependently inhibited CA1/3 glutamate, DRN 5-HT, and VTA dopamine neurons. Naltrindole, administered at 1-3 mg/kg after SNC80, did not have any additional effect. Naltrindole, administered first at 1-3 mg/kg, stimulated DRN 5-HT neurons in a dose-dependent manner; this stimulation was dose-dependently reversed by 1-3 mg/kg of SNC80. SNC80 and naltrindole inhibited LC noradrenaline neurons when only they were co-administered at 3 mg/kg, and only when SNC80 was administered first. In conclusion, DOR ligands alter the firing activity of hippocampal glutamate and brainstem monoamine neurons in in vivo conditions. The psychoactive effects of DOR ligands, reported in previous studies, might be explained, at least in part, by their ability to modulate the firing activity of hippocampal glutamate and brainstem monoamine neurons.