Na(+), K(+) ATPase activity in membrane fractions of rat central and peripheral nervous tissues modified by opioids.

The inhibition by ouabain of Na(+), K(+) ATPase activity in lumbar spinal cord membranes followed a sigmoid curve and in sciatic nerve membranes an exponential curve. The degree of inhibition in spinal cord depended on the presence of opioid ligands; fractions became more sensitive to ouabain after removal of bound opioids. The saturation of receptors by specific ligands reversed the effect of preincubation. Opioids had no effect on Na(+), K(+) ATPase in sciatic nerve. Membranes isolated from spinal cord were highly sensitive to oubain inhibition and their Na(+), K(+) ATPase resembled that containing the ? (+) subunit; membranes from peripheral nerve were less sensitive to ouabain and their enzyme reacted as that containing the ? subunit.