Enkephalin, a natural ligand for opiate receptors is composed of the pentapepides H-Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe-Met-OH and H-Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe-Leu-OH. The evidence is based on the determination of the amino acid sequence of natural enkephalin by the dansyl-Edman procedure and by mass spectrometry followed by synthesis and comparison of the natural and synthetic peptides.

Opioid peptides were assayed by inhibition of 3H-naloxone and 3H-leu-enkephalin binding in brain homogenates and by depression of contractions of the guinea pig ileum and mouse vas deferens. We conclude that the opioid peptidergic system has agonists of different characteristics which interact with more than one type of receptor.

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1Morphine inhibits the electrically evoked (0.1-0.15 Hz, ms) contractions of the longitudinal muscle of the mouse vas deferens but not of the rabbit, guinea-pig, rat, cat, hamster or gerbil. This effect is stereospecific and is antagonized by naloxone or naltrexone. 2 Normorphine is equiactive with morphine but its effects are more rapid in onset and decline. 3 In the mouse vas deferens, the resting outflow of tritium-labelled catecholamines is unaffected by morphine. The electrically evoked outflow is depressed by morphine or normorphine in a dose-dependent manner. The ID50 for inhibition of contraction and for depression of outflow is 0.5 , M. 4 The relative agonist potencies of compounds without antagonist component (codeine. pethidine, morphine, normorphine, heroin, levorphanol, Ba-20227, etorphine) show good correlation with the relative agonist potencies determined in the guinea-pig ileum and for analgesia in man.5 For compounds with dual agonist and antagonist properties, the dose-response curves for agonist activity are shallow. When the lowest concentrations giving a depression of the contraction of the mouse vas deferens are used, a good correlation is obtained with the guinea-pig ileum.6 The relative antagonist potencies of naloxone, nalorphine, levallorphan and cyclazocine agree well with those obtained in the guinea-pig ileum; these, in turn, correlate well with the values obtained in the morphine-dependent monkey. 7 The fact that the agonist effects of drugs with dual agonist and antagonist action show little or no dependence on concentration, makes the mouse vas deferens particularly suitable for the assay of antagonist activity. 8 As an assay preparation, the mouse vas deferens is less robust and consistent in its responses than the guinea-pig ileum.

Summary1. Two preparations, a segment of the ileum and the myenteric plexuslongitudinal muscle preparation, have been used for an analysis of the inhibitory effects of adrenaline, noradrenaline and isoprenaline on the contractor responses of the longitudinal muscle to acetylcholine or to electrical, coaxial or field, stimulation. 2. Since the inhibitory effects of adrenaline, noradrenaline and isoprenaline on the acetylcholine-induced contractions were not affected by phenoxybenzamine but were antagonized by propranolol, it is concluded that 3-adrenoceptors are present on the muscle cells. 3. The responses to electrical stimulation were suppressed by adrenaline or noradrenaline but only partly inhibited by isoprenaline. Propranolol antagonized the effect of isoprenaline and, to some extent, that of noradrenaline, but scarcely affected the action of adrenaline. Phenoxybenzamine, on the other hand, antagonized most of the effect of adrenaline and, to some extent, that of noradrenaline; it usually potentiated the effect of isoprenaline. 4. The output of acetylcholine evoked by electrical stimulation was diminished by adrenaline or noradrenaline but was not affected by isoprenaline. The depressant effect on acetylcholine release was antagonized by phenoxybenzamine but not affected by propranolol ; therefore these effects of adrenaline and noradrenaline are mediated by a-adrenoceptors. 5. It may be assumed that a-adrenoceptors in situ are stimulated mainly by circulating adrenaline and possibly noradrenaline and thus cause a prejunctional inhibition at the nerve-smooth muscle junction.