The sympathetic nervous system, the most important extrinsic regulatory mechanism of the heart, is inhibited postsynaptically and presynaptically by opioid peptides produced in the heart via their respective receptors. The cardiac actions of β-adrenergic receptor (β-AR) stimulation are attenuated by activation of the opioid receptor (OR) with OR agonist at ineffective concentrations, implying cross-talk between the OR and β-AR. This cross-talk results from inhibition of the Gs protein and adenylyl cyclase of the β-AR pathway by the pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein of the opioid pathway. Alterations in cross-talk between these two receptors occur in pathological situations to meet bodily needs. In myocardial ischemia, when the sympathetic activity is increased, the inhibition of β-AR stimulation by ĸ-opioid stimulation is also enhanced, thus reducing the workload, oxygen consumption and cardiac injury. Whereas cardiac responsiveness to sympathetic discharges is also reduced after chronic hypoxia, the cross-talk between ĸ-OR and β-AR is reduced to prevent undue suppression of the sympathetic influence on the heart. On the other hand, impairment of the cross-talk may result in abnormality. A lack or a significant reduction in the inhibition of β-AR stimulation by ĸ-OR stimulation may lead to an excessive increase in cardiac activities, which contribute to the maintenance of high arterial blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Other than opioid peptides, female sex hormone and adenosine also inhibit the sympathetic actions on the heart. In addition, sympathetic action is also inhibited presynaptically by ĸ-opioid peptides via their receptor.

Keywords:
β-Adrenergic receptor, Opioid receptor, Heart, Sympathetic nervous system, Female sex hormone, Adenosine, Inhibition
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© 2001 National Science Council, ROC and S. Karger AG, Basel
2001
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