Coexpressed δ-, μ-, and к-Opioid Receptors Modulate Voltage-Gated Ca²⁺ Channels in Gastric-Projecting Vagal Afferent Neurons

Opioid analgesics are frequently associated with gastrointestinal side effects, including constipation, nausea, dysphagia, and reduced gastric motility. Though it has been shown that stimulation of opioid receptors expressed in enteric motor neurons contributes to opioid-induced constipation, it remains unclear whether activation of opioid receptors in gastric-projecting nodose ganglia neurons contributes to the reduction in gastric motility and emptying associated with opioid use. In the present study, whole-cell patch-clamp recordings were performed to determine the mechanism underlying opioid receptor–mediated modulation of Ca²⁺ currents in acutely isolated gastric vagal afferent neurons. Our results demonstrate that Ca_V2.2 channels provide the majority (71% ± 16%) of Ca²⁺ currents in gastric vagal afferent neurons. Furthermore, we found that application of oxycodone, U-50488, or deltorphin II on gastric nodose ganglia neurons inhibited Ca²⁺ currents through a voltage-dependent mechanism by coupling to the Gα_i/o family of heterotrimeric G-proteins. Because previous studies have demonstrated that the nodose ganglia expresses low levels of δ-opioid receptors, we also determined the deltorphin II concentration-response relationship and assessed deltorphin-mediated Ca²⁺ current inhibition following exposure to the δ-opioid receptor antagonist ICI 174,864 (0.3 mM). The peak mean Ca²⁺ current inhibition following deltorphin II application was 47% ± 24% (EC₅₀ = 302.6 nM), and exposure to ICI 174,864 blocked deltorphin II–mediated Ca²⁺ current inhibition (4% ± 4% versus 37% ± 20%). Together, our results suggest that analgesics targeting any opioid receptor subtype can modulate gastric vagal circuits.