Antinociceptive profile of intracerebroventricular salmon calcitonin and calcitonin gene-related peptide in the mouse formalin test

The effects of intracerebroventricularly administered salmon calcitonin (sCT) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) on the behavioural response of the mouse to formalin injections were investigated. Mice lick their hindpaws for 5 min after formalin injections, then stop, and resume intensive licking for another 10 min beginning 20 min after the injections. Both peptides reduced the nociceptive response in the two phases of the test (0-5 and 20-30 min after formalin injection). Antinociceptive A50 values were 3.3 micrograms/mouse and 4.7 micrograms/mouse respectively in the first phase for sCT and CGRP. The effects of sCT and CGRP appeared to be dose-dependent in the first phase. Since in the second phase sCT appeared more effective and CGRP gave a bell-shaped curve, possible differences in the mechanisms of action of the peptides in the two response intervals of the test are suggested.