Gz- and not Gi-proteins are coupled to pre-junctional μ-opioid receptors in bovine airways

We investigated the signal transmission pathway by which activation of μ-opioid receptors attenuates acetylcholine (ACh) release in bovine trachealis. Electrical stimulation (ES)-induced [(3)H]-ACh release was determined in bovine tracheal smooth muscle strips pre-incubated with either the Gi-protein inhibitor pertussis toxin (PTX, 500 ng/ml and 1 μg/ml) or the Gz-protein specific inhibitor arachidonic acid (AA, 10(-6)M and 10(-5)M) and then treated with DAMGO (D-Ala(2),N-MePhe(4),Gly-ol(5)-enkephalin) 10(-5)M. Indomethacin 10(-5)M was used to block AA cascade. The inhibitory effect of DAMGO on ES-induced [(3)H]-ACh release was PTX-insensitive, but, by contrast, ablated by AA in a concentration-dependent manner. AA 10(-5)M alone reduced [(3)H]-ACh release, an effect that was prevented by iberiotoxin 10(-7)M, suggesting an involvement of Ca(2+)-activated K(+)-channels. Western blot analysis consistently showed immunoreactive bands against a specific antibody anti-Gz-α subunit at ∼40 kDa, consistent with the presence of Gz-protein. The present findings suggest that in isolated bovine trachealis, activation of μ-opioid receptors inhibits ACh-release through a signal transmission pathway involving Gz-protein rather than Gi-protein.