Effect of agmatine on DAMGO-induced mu-opioid receptor down-regulation and internalization via activation of IRAS, a candidate for imidazoline I1 receptor

Agmatine, an endogenous ligand for imidazoline I1 receptor, has previously been shown to prevent opioid tolerance in rats and mice, but the cellular mechanisms remain unknown. In the present study, the effects of agmatine activation on imidazoline I1 receptor on the desensitization, down-regulation and internalization of μ opioid receptor were investigated. Two cell lines, CHO cells transfected μ opioid receptor (CHO-μ cells) and co-transfected μ opioid receptor and imidazoline I1 receptor antisera-selected protein (IRAS) (CHO-μ/IRAS cells), were used. In both CHO-μ cells and CHO-μ/IRAS cells, agmatine (0.01–10 μM) did not affect the desensitization of μ opioid receptor induced by [d-Ala2, N-Me-Phe4,Gly5-ol]-enkephalin (DAMGO) (10 μM) treatment for 30 min. However, agmatine (0.1–100 nM) co-pretreatment with DAMGO (1 μM) for 12 h concentration-dependently inhibited DAMGO-induced down-regulation of μ opioid receptor in CHO-μ/IRAS cells, but not in CHO-μ cells. Efaroxan, the I1/α2-adrenoceptors mix antagonist, completely reversed the inhibitory effect of agmatine, suggesting the participation of imidazoline I1 receptor. In addition, agmatine (1–100 nM) inhibited DAMGO-induced internalization of μ opioid receptor in CHO-μ/IRAS cells, which was reversed by efaroxan as well. While treatment with DAMGO (1 μM) or co-treatment with agmatine (1–100 nM) for 12 h failed to affect the mRNA level of μ opioid receptor. Taken together, these results indicate that the inhibitory effect of agmatine on tolerance in vitro might be related to attenuation of the internalization and down-regulation of μ opioid receptor via activation of imidazoline I1 receptor.