OPIOIDS MODULATE MIGRATION, SPREADING AND ADHERENCE OF MESANGIAL CELLS

Glomerular mesangial cells are considered to be modified smooth muscle cells and seem to play a role in the maintenance of glomerular hemody namics. The present study was carried out to determine the effect of o pioids on adhesiveness, spreading and migration of mesangial cells. Mo rphine enhanced spreading of mesangial cells at early time periods (5 min, control 8+/-2% vs, morphine 15+/-1%, p<0.05; 15 min, control 21+/ -5% vs, morphine 38+/-2%, p<0.05) as well as at later time periods whe n compared to control cells (at 2 h, control 23+/-1% vs. morphine 49+/ -1%, p<0.001; at 3 h, control 28+/-3% vs. morphine 63+/-2%, p<0.05). b eta-Endorphin also enhanced (p<0.001) spreading of mesangial cells (at 2 h, control 23+/-1% vs. beta-endorphin 48+/-3%; at 3 h, control 28+/ -3% vs. beta-endorphin 65+/-1%). Morphine decreased adhesion of mesang ial cells to the plastic substrate at 24 h as well at 48 h when compar ed to the control cells. Naloxone attenuated the effect of morphine on adhesion to the substrate. Morphine enhanced (p<0.05) migration (perc entage of denuded area covered by mesangial cells when compared to con trol cells (control 26.07+/-1.08% vs, morphine 37.5+/-2.94%; n=9). Sin ce the morphine-induced decreased adhesiveness could be attenuated by naloxone, this effect of morphine on mesangial cells appears to be med iated by opioid receptors.