Delta opioid peptides like [D-Ala2, D-Leu5] Encephalin (DADLE) have been shown to improve the survivability of tissue during times of stress, like tissue transplantation or induced cardiac ischemia. The mechanism, while not well understood, has been revealed as a possible way to improve the tissue transplant process by extending the life and transport of tissues once removed from donors. The manner in which these opioid peptides effect individual cell types such as hematopoietic stem cells, is not well documented. By introducing DADLE into collections of these specific types of cells, we investigated if a similar effect took place in stem cells. Flow cytometry using CD34 enumeration and 7-AAD viability staining was used to measure DADLE activity compared to control cell treatment. Three separate experiments were performed with graded doses of DADLE and results showed there was no difference in viability between the control treated cells and the cells treated with DADLE. The results indicate that at the concentrations used, no such effect was noted and therefore further testing needs to be done to determine what factors prevented the cells from reaching a hibernation-like state.
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