A-85380 and epibatidine each interact with disparate spinal nicotinic receptor subtypes to achieve analgesia and nociception

Nicotinic agonists, such as epibatidine (EPI) and A-85380, when administered systemically, elicit analgesia. Intrathecal EPI also produces analgesia accompanied by nociceptive and pressor responses. Since spinal administration of drugs offers a well defined pathway connecting the site of administration with behavioral and autonomic responses, we have compared the responses to intrathecal epibatidine and A-85380 to delineate the role of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in spinal neurotransmission. Following implantation of intrathecal catheters in rats, we monitored cardiovascular, nociceptive, and antinociceptive responses after administration of various nicotinic receptor agonists. Consistent with A-85380 displacement of epibatidine from isolated spinal cord membranes, A-85380 elicited pressor, nociceptive, and antinociceptive responses similar to EPI. Antinociception was preceded by nociception. Both antinociception and nociception were blocked by mecamylamine, methyllycaconitine, and alpha-lobeline, but dihydro-beta-erythroidine only blocked the antinociceptive response. Whereas prior administration of EPI desensitized the nociceptive and antinociceptive responses to EPI, A-85380 pretreatment only desensitized EPI-elicited nociception and not antinociception. 2-Amino-5-phosphopentanoic acid pretreatment blocked the nociceptive response to A-85380, indicating A-85380 stimulated release of glutamate onto N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors to produce the irritant response of nociception. Intrathecal phentolamine virtually abolished A-85380 antinociception, but had no effect on EPI antinociception. Hence, analgesia can be produced by stimulation of distinct spinal preterminal nicotinic receptor subtypes, resulting in the release of neurotransmitters. In the case of A-85380, these sites primarily appear to be localized on adrenergic bulbospinal terminals. Our data suggest that A-85380 and EPI act at separate preterminal spinal sites as well as on distinct nicotinic receptor subtypes to elicit an antinociceptive response at the spinal level.     

The antinociception produced by intrathecal morphine, calcium, A23187, U50,488H, [D-Ala2, N-Me-Phe4, Gly-ol]enkephalin and [D-Pen2, D-Pen5]enkephalin after intrathecal administration of calcitonin gene-related peptide in mice

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), which has been shown to modulate calcium in both the brain and in peripheral tissues, has not previously been shown to modulate calcium in the spinal cord. This study shows that the effects of CGRP given intrathecally (i.t.) appear to result from calcium modulation. Evidence for this hypothesis is the parallel shift to the right in the dose-effect curves of both i.t. calcium and i.t. A23187 (a calcium ionophore) by i.t. CGRP, and the enhancement by ethylene glycol bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N'-tetraacetic acid of the ability of CGRP to antagonize morphine-induced antinociception. The CGRP-induced modulation of spinal calcium appears to occur in opiate-sensitive pathways as well as nonopioid pathways, as evidenced by parallel shifts to the right in the dose-response curves of i.c.v. and i.t. morphine in either the tail-flick or the hot-plate test and nonparallel shifts in the dose-response curve of s.c. morphine in the tail-flick test. CGRP attenuates the antinociceptive effect of the delta receptor-specific ligand [D-Pen2, D-Pen5]enkephalin (i.t.), but enhances the antinociceptive effect of the kappa ligand, U50, 488H. CGRP does not appear to interact directly with the opiate receptor because it does not mimic the activity of naloxone i.t. However, CGRP-induced alterations of calcium in opiate-sensitive spinal pathways appear to produce subtle modulation of opiate antinociception without direct opiate receptor interaction.     

Role of nitric-oxide synthase isoforms in nitrous oxide antinociception in mice

Exposure of mice to the anesthetic gas N2O evokes a prominent antinociceptive effect that is sensitive to antagonism by nonselective nitric-oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitors. The present study was conducted to identify whether a specific NOS isoform is implicated in N2O antinociception in mice. In the abdominal constriction test, exposure of mice to 25, 50, and 70% N2O resulted in a concentration-dependent antinociceptive effect that persisted for up to 6 min following removal of the mice from the N2O atmosphere into room air. This N2O antinociceptive effect was antagonized by pretreatment with S-methyl-l-thiocitrulline (SMTC) and higher doses of l-N5-(1-iminoethyl)-ornithine (l-NIO), which reportedly inhibit the neuronal and endothelial isoforms of NOS, respectively. Nevertheless, the N2O-induced antinociception was unaffected by pretreatment with low doses of either SMTC or l-NIO or by pretreatment with 2-amino-5,6-dihydro-6-methyl-4H-1,3-thiazine (AMT), which selectively inhibits inducible NOS. The s.c. pretreatment with SMTC and l-NIO reduced brain NOS activity in a dose-dependent manner, whereas AMT had no such effect. Moreover, in blood pressure experiments, SMTC increased SBP in dose-unrelated fashion, whereas l-NIO showed an appreciably weaker but dose-related increase in SBP. The i.c.v. pretreatment with SMTC also reduced N2O antinociception and brain NOS activity without increasing of SBP. These results suggest that it is the neuronal isoform of NOS that is involved in mediation of the antinociceptive effect of N2O in the mice.     

Methadone Antinociception Is Dependent on Peripheral Opioid Receptors

Morphine and methadone are both high-affinity, potent μ-opioid peptide (MOP) receptor analgesics. In this report, we compared the antinociceptive potencies of these 2 drugs when administered subcutaneously (s.c.), intrathecally (i.t.), or intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) in both rat and mouse, using the tail-flick assay. We found that both morphine and methadone were potently antinociceptive when the drugs were administered s.c., showing comparable AD50 values in both species. However, the antinociception produced by methadone, when it was administered centrally, was much weaker than that produced by centrally administered morphine. Specifically, the AD50 value for methadone antinociception was more than 30-fold higher at both the i.t. and i.c.v. sites in mouse and not measurable in rat. Naloxone methiodide (NLX-M), a peripherally restricted antagonist, was used to further examine the relative contribution of central versus peripheral sites to morphine and methadone antinociception. NLX-M, when administered s.c., blocked the antinociceptive effect of either systemically or centrally administered methadone but had little effect on the antinociception produced by centrally administered morphine. Furthermore, centrally administered NLX-M significantly blocked antinociception produced by centrally administered morphine but not that produced by centrally administered methadone. Together, these results suggest that methadone antinociception is significantly dependent on an action of the drug at peripheral sites and could provide novel insight into the neural mechanisms that distinguish morphine versus methadone antinociception.PerspectiveMethadone is often used as an alternative for pain management. The present study shows that a peripheral action plays a crucial role in methadone antinociception. This finding could have significant clinical relevance for the use of methadone versus morphine for the treatment of certain types of pain.     

Determination and characterization of the antinociceptive activity of intraventricularly administered acetylcholine in mice.

Antinociceptive activity of intraventricularly administered acetylcholine was quantitated in mice by the tail-flick and phenylquinone tests. Acetylcholine was administered intraventricularly under light ether anesthesia in a 5 mul volume of sterile saline and mice were retested 10 minutes after the operation. A dose-response curve was established for acetylcholine (ED50 equals 7.3 mug) which was potentiated by intraventricular neostigimine and blocked by intraperitoneal atropine, but not by atropine methyl nitrate or mecamylamine. The antinociceptive effect of morphine was potentiated by intraventricularly administered acetylcholine. The acetylcholine-induced antinocieption was blocked by five narcotic antagonists in the same rank order of potency in which they antagonized the effects of morphine. However, the stereo-specificity of two narcotic antagonists, pentazocine and cylcazocine, was reversed in blocking acetylcholine and morphine-induced antinociception. The results of this study have established a phenomenon of acetylcholine-induced antinociception and identified the central, muscarinic nature of this response. In addition, several experiments have demonstrated similarities between this phenomenon and morphine-induced antinociception. These data implicate the possible involvement of central cholinergic mechanisms in the antinociceptive action of morphine.     

Evidence that endogenous opioids mediate the antinociceptive effects of intrathecally administered calcium in mice.

Mice injected with calcium in the intrathecal (i.t.) space display dose-dependent antinociception in the tail-flick test. The aims of this study were to evaluate whether endogenous opioids mediate the antinociceptive effects of calcium (i.t.) and to determine if antinociception resulted from calcium acting directly in segmental spinal sites. Mice spinalized at T6 to T8 were more sensitive to the antinociceptive effects of calcium (150-600 nmol i.t.) than sham-lesioned mice. In intact mice, naloxone (138-275 pmol i.t.) and naltrindole (2.8-22 nmol i.t.) dose-dependently blocked the antinociceptive effects of calcium (600 nmol i.t.), with inhibitory dose-50 (ID50) values of 235 picomol and 11.4 nanomol, respectively. nor-Binaltorphimine (nor-BNI) (14-54 nmol i.t.) did not antagonize the antinociceptive effects of calcium (i.t.). Furthermore, the calcium (i.t.) dose-response curve was shifted right-ward by naloxone (206 pmol i.t.) and naltrindole (5.5 nmol i.t.). nor-BNI (54 nmol i.t.) was ineffective in shifting the dose-response curve. In spinalized mice, naloxone (206-687 pmol i.t.) and naltrindole (11-44 nmol i.t.) blocked the antinociceptive effects of calcium (i.t.), with ID50 values of 342 and 19.2 nmol, respectively. nor-BNI did not antagonize antinociception. In addition, the calcium (i.t.) dose-response curve was shifted right-ward by naloxone (275 pmol i.t.) and naltrindole (11 nmol i.t.). The dose-response curve was not shifted by nor-BNI (54 nmol i.t.). A 4-hr pretreatment with the irreversible mu receptor antagonist beta-funaltrexamine (0.01-0.4 nmol i.t.) blocked [D-Ala2, N-Me-Phe4, Gly5-ol]enkephalin but not [D-Pen2,5]enkephalin or calcium (i.t.)-mediated antinociception.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The activity of several peptide fragments of parathyroid hormone, alone and in combination with salmon calcitonin and morphine, in antinociceptive tests in the mouse

Fragments of the parathyroid hormone (PTH) molecule were investigated for intrinsic antinociceptive effects and modulation of salmon calcitonin- and morphine-induced antinociception. Intraventricularly administered PTH 1-34 produced naloxone-insensitive antinociception in both the tail-flick and hot-plate tests. PTH 1-34 antinociceptive effects in the tail-flick test were blocked by i.c.v. salmon calcitonin (sCT, 2 micrograms) and i.c.v. calcium chloride (0.12 mumol). [tyrosine-34]b-PTH (7-34)NH2, the PTH antagonist, did not block PTH 1-34-induced antinociception. PTH 1-34 (2 micrograms) was additive with antinociceptive doses of sCT, but not morphine, in the hot-plate test. PTH 44-68 (0.3 micrograms/mouse, icv.) produced hyperalgesic effects 30 min after administration using the hot-plate test. PTH 44-68 (2 micrograms/mouse) attenuated sCT-induced but not morphine-induced antinociception in both the hot-plate and tail-flick tests. PTH 64-84 was inactive in all tests, alone or in combination with sCT or morphine. Due to the low efficacy of PTH 1-34 and 44-68 in antinociceptive tests, these PTH fragments may act as modulators of antinociception rather than directly producing antinociceptive or hyperalgesic effects. In addition, the results indicate that sCT and the PTH fragments 1-34 and 44-68 may interact in the modulation of nonopiate antinociception, possibly via opposing actions on calcium in the brain.     

A Prolonged Nitric Oxide-Dependent,Opioid-Mediated Antinociceptive Effect of Hyperbaric Oxygen in Mice

Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO₂) therapy is reported to cause pain relief in several conditions of chronic pain. A single 60-minute session of HBO₂ treatment produced a prolonged antinociceptive effect in mice that persisted for 90 minutes after cessation of treatment. The HBO₂-induced antinociception was significantly attenuated by pretreatment before HBO₂ exposure with the opioid antagonist naltrexone, the nonspecific nitric oxide synthase (NOS)-inhibitor N^G-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), and the selective neuronal NOS-inhibitor S-methyl-l-thiocitrulline (SMTC) but not the selective endothelial NOS-inhibitor N⁵-(1-iminoethyl)-l-ornithine (L-NIO). The antinociception was also significantly reduced by central pretreatment with a rabbit antiserum against dynorphin_1-13 but not by rabbit antisera against either β-endorphin or methionine-enkephalin. The prolonged antinociceptive effect at 90 minutes after HBO₂-induced treatment was also significantly attenuated by naltrexone but not L-NAME administered 60 minutes after HBO₂ treatment but before nociceptive testing. These findings indicate that the antinociception that persists for 90 minutes after HBO₂ exposure is mediated by nitric oxide (NO) and opioid mechanisms but that the NO involvement is critical during the HBO₂ treatment and not at the time of nociceptive testing. These results are consistent with the concept that HBO₂ may induce an NO-dependent release of opioid peptide to cause a long-acting antinociceptive effect.PerspectiveThis article presents evidence of a persistent antinociceptive effect of hyperbaric oxygen treatment that is mediated by opioid and NO mechanisms. Further elucidation of the underlying mechanism could identify molecular targets to cause a longer-acting activation of endogenous pain-modulating systems.     

Interaction of morphine with intrathecally administered calcium and calcium antagonists: evidence for supraspinal endogenous opioid mediation of intrathecal calcium-induced antinociception in mice

The interaction between morphine [i.p. and intrathecal (i.t.)] and calcium and its antagonists (i.t. and i.c.v.) was studied in the mouse tail-flick test for antinociception. Calcium (0.66 mumol i.t.) produced antinociception comparable to that of morphine (0.5 microgram i.t.) but had a significantly longer duration. A lower dose of calcium (0.16 mumol i.t.) significantly potentiated morphine (0.2 and 0.5 micrograms i.t.). The antinociceptive effect of i.p. morphine was also potentiated by i.t. calcium, but was antagonized by the i.t. administration of ethylene glycol bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N'-tetraacetic acid (3.7-7.5 nmol), verapamil (15 micrograms), magnesium (9.4 nmol) and barium (1-2 nmol). In contrast, i.t. calcium and i.p. morphine were significantly potentiated by the i.c.v. administration of verapamil (15 micrograms) and antagonized by i.c.v. calcium (0.33 mumol). The antinociceptive effect of i.t. calcium was antagonized by naloxone administered s.c. (1 mg/kg) or i.c.v. (0.5 microgram), but not i.t. (0.5 and 10 microgram). It is concluded that the antinociceptive effect of i.t. calcium is mediated, at least partly, by a reflex supraspinal release of endogenous opioids, and that the administration of calcium and its antagonists modify the antinociceptive effect of morphine in opposite directions, depending upon whether they are administered by the i.t. or i.c.v. routes. Calcium may serve as a useful adjunct for opioid-induced analgesia via the i.t. route.     

Differential antagonism of opioid delta antinociception by [D-Ala2,Leu5,Cys6]enkephalin and naltrindole 5'-isothiocyanate: evidence for delta receptor subtypes.

The present study has investigated the direct opioid delta receptor-mediated antinociception produced by i.c.v. administration of the highly selective delta agonists, [D-Pen2,D-Pen5]enkephalin (DPDPE) and [D-Ala2]deltorphin II, as well as that of the less delta-selective [D-Ser2,Leu5,Thr6]enkephalin (DSLET), by using two novel nonequilibrium opioid antagonists, [D-Ala2,Leu5,Cys6] enkephalin (DALCE) and naltrindole 5'-isothiocyanate (5'-NTII). At times ranging from 8 to 48 hr after a single i.c.v. pretreatment of mice with 5'-NTII, the antinociceptive effects of [D-Ala2] deltorphin II were significantly antagonized. In contrast, 5'-NTII pretreatment at times between 10 min and 24 hr failed to antagonize the antinociceptive effects of DPDPE. Previous studies have shown that pretreatment with i.c.v. DALCE produces a dose- and time-related antagonism of DPDPE, but not morphine, antinociception. However, pretreatment with i.c.v. DALCE failed to antagonize the antinociceptive effects of [D-Ala2]deltorphin II. Similarly, i.c.v. administration of DSLET produced time- and dose-related antinociception which was partially antagonized by either beta-funaltrexamine (beta-FNA) or by ICI 174,864 (N,N-dialyl-Tyr-Aib-Aib-Phe-Leu-OH), suggesting mixed activity at mu and delta receptors. ICI 174,864 produced essentially complete antagonism of DSLET antinociception in beta-FNA-pretreated mice. Pretreatment with 5'-NTII (at -8 to -48 hr), blocked the antinociception produced by DSLET in control or in beta-FNA-pretreated mice. In contrast, pretreatment with DALCE failed to antagonize the antinociception produced by i.c.v. DSLET in either control or in beta-FNA-pretreated mice.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Peripheral and central antinociceptive action of Na+-K+-2Cl- cotransporter blockers on formalin-induced nociception in rats

The possible local peripheral and spinal (intrathecal) antinociceptive effect of Na(+)-K(+)-2Cl(-) cotransporter (NKCC) inhibitors was investigated in the rat formalin test. Nociceptive flinching behavior induced by formalin (1%) injection in the hind paw was assessed following administration of cotransporter inhibitors. Local peripheral pretreatment in the ipsilateral paw with bumetanide (ED(30), 27.1+/-12.7 microg/paw), piretanide (ED(30), 109.2+/-21.6 microg/paw) or furosemide (ED(30), 34.3+/-5.0 microg/paw), but not vehicle (DMSO 100%), produced dose-dependent antinociception in phase 2 of the test. Local bumetanide had the greatest effect (approximately 70% antinociception). Bumetanide also inhibited formalin-induced flinching behavior during phase 1 (ED(30), 105.6+/-99.1 microg/paw). Spinal intrathecal pretreatment with bumetanide (ED(30), 194.6+/-97.9 microg), piretanide (ED(30), 254.4+/-104.9 microg) or furosemide (ED(30), 32.0+/-6.9 microg), but not vehicle (DMSO 100%), also produced antinociception in phase 2. In this case, only intrathecal furosemide reduced flinching behavior during phase 1 (ED(30), 99.4+/-51.4 microg) and had the maximal antinociceptive effect in phase 2 (approximately 65% antinociception). The opioid receptor-antagonist naloxone (2 mg/kg, s.c.) did not reverse antinociception induced by either peripheral or spinal administration of NKCC blockers. Our data suggest that the Na(+)-K(+)-2Cl(-) cotransporter localized in sensory neurons at intraspinal and peripheral sites is involved in formalin-induced nociception.     

Spinal antinociception by adenosine analogs and morphine after intrathecal administration of the neurotoxins capsaicin, 6-hydroxydopamine and 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine

The effects of intrathecal pretreatment with the neurotoxins capsaicin, 6-hydroxydopamine and 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine on spinal antinociception by adenosine analogs (NECA, 5'-N-ethylcarboxamido adenosine and CHA, N6-cyclohexyl adenosine) and morphine were examined using the rat tail flick and hot plate tests. Pretreatment with 50 micrograms capsaicin for 7 to 11 days (which reduced substance P immunoreactivity in the superficial layers of the dorsal spinal cord) produced a slight increase in the action of NECA and CHA, and reduced the action on morphine in the hot plate test but not in the tail flick test. Pretreatment with 50 to 100 micrograms 6-hydroxydopamine for 7 to 14 days (which reduced spinal cord noradrenaline levels by 54-65%) reduced spinal antinociception by NECA and CHA but not that by morphine. Pretreatment with 50 micrograms 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine (which reduced spinal cord serotonin levels by 74-89%) had no effect on any agent. Acute pretreatment with 7.5-30 micrograms phentolamine reduced the spinal antinociceptive action of noradrenaline, NECA and CHA, primarily in the hot plate test. Phentolamine (30 micrograms) also reduced the action of morphine (hot plate greater than tail flick), but did not affect the action of L-baclofen. These results suggest that spinal antinociception by adenosine analogs: 1) occurs primarily at a postsynaptic site of action (capsaicin results), and 2) is dependent on release of endogenous noradrenaline and activation of spinal adrenergic receptors (6-hydroxydopamine and phentolamine results). The reduction in the effect of morphine by capsaicin (removes a source of adenosine release) and phentolamine (antagonizes the action of endogenously released adenosine) can be explained in terms of the adenosine release hypothesis of morphine action within the spinal cord.     

Characterization of the antinociception induced by nicotine in the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus and the nucleus raphe magnus.

The antinociceptive effect of subcortically administered nicotine was investigated in the rat using the hot-plate and tail-flick tests. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were implanted with guide cannulas aimed at 185 sites in the forebrain, midbrain and hindbrain. After 1 week, nicotine was injected in 0.5 microliter of 50 mM phosphate buffer, pH 7.4. The pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus (PPTg) of the mesopontine tegmentum and the nucleus raphe magnus (NRM) of the ventral medulla were the most sensitive sites of nicotine-induced antinociception. The median effective doses of nicotine to inhibit hot-plate or tail-flick nociception after PPTg or NRM administration ranged between 1.4 and 3 nmol. The lack of effect of s.c. injections of naloxone on the antinociception induced by nicotine in the PPTg or NRM ruled out endogenous opioid mechanisms. Coadministration of mecamylamine or pirenzepine with nicotine into the NRM competitively antagonized nicotine-induced antinociception. The administration of the muscurinic cholinergic type 2 receptor antagonist methoctramine into the NRM produced a strong antinociceptive response which was blocked by prior treatment of the NRM with hemicholinium-3. Hemicholinium-3 pretreatment of either the PPTg or the NRM antagonized the antinociception induced by nicotine at these sites. Hemicholinium-3 pretreatment of the NRM also antagonized the antinociception produced by s.c. administered nicotine. The antinociceptive effects of nicotine injected in the PPTg were blocked by procainamide injections in the NRM; however, the antinociceptive effects of nicotine injected in the NRM were not blocked by bilateral injections of procainamide in the PPTg. Both lesioning the PPTg with ibotenic acid and pretreating the NRM with hemicholinium-3 abolished completely the antinociception induced by nicotine or (+)-cis-dioxolane microinjections into the PPTg. However, neither ibotenic acid-induced nor electrolytic lesions of the PPTg alone altered CRL. The data support the existence of a tonically active cholinergic pathway which is under autoinhibitory control that originates in the PPTg, terminates in the NRM and modulates nociception by activating descending pain inhibitory systems relaying within the NRM.     

Effects of divalent cations, cation chelators and an ionophore on morphine analgesia and tolerance.

The analgesic effect of morphine was antagonized in mice by intracerebroventricular injection of Ca++, Mg++ and Mn++ and was potentiated by ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid but was not altered by Sr++, Ba++, Ni++, Hg++, Cd++ or ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid. The antagonistic effect of Ca++ was not altered by pretreatment with pargyline or 6-hydroxydopamine indicating that altered release of catecholamines or serotonin was not involved in this action of Ca++. Induction of morphine tolerance by pellet implantation also did not alter the antagonistic effect of Ca++. The antagonistic effects of Ca++ and naloxone were additive in both nontolerant and tolerant animals and the apparent affinity of naloxone for its receptors, as estimated by in vivo pA2 determinations, was not altered by Ca++. However, the ionophore X537A was found to increase greatly the narcotic antagonist effect of a low dose of Ca++ although the ionophore alone did not alter the effects of morphine. This indicates that Ca"++ must penetrate cell membranes in order to reduce the analgesic effects of morphine. These findings indicate the importance of Ca++ localization in the actions of narcotic agonists and antagonists.     

Antinociceptive action of McN-5195 in rodents: a structurally novel (indolizine) analgesic with a nonopioid mechanism of action

McN-5195 [(+/-)-trans-3-(2-bromophenyl)-octahydroindolizine] inhibited at nontoxic doses the nociceptive response in tail-pinch, tail-flick and 48 degrees C hot-plate tests of mice, with ED50 values of 38.2, 33.9 and 30.9 mg/kg i.p., respectively, and of rats, with ED50 values (i.p.) of 33.2 mg/kg (tail-flick) and 33.3 mg/kg (hot-plate). The compound was p.o. active in the acetylcholine-induced irritant test (ED50 = 20.1 mg/kg) in mice and the air-induced irritant test (ED50 = 33.2 mg/kg) in rats. McN-5195 blocked thalamic activity (multiunit recordings from the ventral posterolateral nucleus) evoked by noxious stimulation of the contralateral hindlimb of anesthetized rats, but did not alter thalamic activity during non-noxious stimulation. The antinociceptive action of McN-5195 was not blocked by naloxone and was not diminished in morphine-tolerant animals. McN-5195 did not affect arachidonate metabolism and was not active against carrageenan-induced paw edema or in an adjuvant arthritis test in rats. McN-5195 did not bind to opiate, serotonin S1 or S2, dopamine D2, alpha-1, alpha-2, beta adrenergic or gamma-aminobutyric acid-A receptors and did not inhibit the synaptic uptake of norepinephrine, serotonin, dopamine or gamma-aminobutyric acid. McN-5195-induced antinociception was not affected by reserpine or phentolamine pretreatment and was not reduced in clonidine-tolerant animals. Ketanserin and yohimbine inhibited McN-5195-induced antinociception by an indirect mechanism. Tolerance did not develop to chronic administration of McN-5195 (120 mg/kg 3 times per day for 10 days). We conclude that McN-5195 is a structurally novel (indolizine) antinociceptive agent that produces its analgesic action via a nonopioid mechanism, not involving products of arachidonate metabolism.     

Dissociation of opioid antinociception and central gastrointestinal propulsion in the mouse: studies with naloxonazine

The effect of pretreatment with naloxonazine on opioid-mediated antinociception against a thermal stimulus (55 degrees C warm-water tail-flick test) and inhibition of gastrointestinal transit at supraspinal and spinal levels was studied in unanesthetized mice. The mu-selective agonist [D-Ala2, N-methyl-Phe4, Gly5-ol]enkephalin (DAGO), the delta-selective agonist [D-Pen2, D-Pen5]enkephalin (DPDPE) and the reference mu-acting agonist morphine, all produced antinociception after either i.c.v. or intrathecal(ly) (i.t.) administration. Morphine and DAGO, but not DPDPE, inhibited gastrointestinal transit after i.c.v. administration, whereas all three agonists slowed gut propulsion when given i.t. A single s.c. naloxonazine pretreatment, 35 mg/kg given 24 hr earlier, failed to displace the dose-response line for i.c.v. DPDPE antinociception but produced a marked rightward displacement of the i.c.v. morphine and DAGO dose-response lines for antinociception. In contrast, naloxonazine (35 mg/kg) pretreatment did not alter the antinociceptive effects of i.t. morphine, DAGO or DPDPE. The effects of naloxonazine pretreatment on inhibition of gut propulsion were the converse of those observed for antinociception at supraspinal and spinal sites; naloxonazine had no effect on the antitransit properties of i.c.v. morphine and DAGO but inhibited the antitransit properties of all three agonists when they were given i.t. These results support the view that opioids may produce their supraspinal antitransit effects at a receptor different from that mediating antinociception; morphine and DAGO mediate their antitransit effects at a naloxonazine-insensitive site, whereas their antinociceptive effects are produced at the naloxonazine-sensitive receptor.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Bee venom injection significantly reduces nociceptive behavior in the mouse formalin test via capsaicin-insensitive afferents.

Peripheral bee venom (BV) administration produces 2 contrasting effects, nociception and antinociception. This study was designed to evaluate whether the initial nociceptive effect induced by BV injection into the Zusanli acupoint is involved in producing the more prolonged antinociceptive effect observed in the mouse formalin test, and whether capsaicin-sensitive primary afferents are involved in these effects. BV injection into the Zusanli point increased spinal Fos expression but not spontaneous nociceptive behavior. BV pretreatment 10 minutes before intraplantar formalin injection dose-dependently attenuated nociceptive behavior associated with the second phase of the formalin test. The destruction of capsaicin-sensitive primary afferents by resiniferatoxin (RTX) pretreatment selectively decreased BV-induced spinal Fos expression but did not affect BV-induced antinociception. Furthermore, BV injection increased Fos expression in tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactive neurons in the locus caeruleus, and this expression was unaltered by RTX pretreatment. Finally, BV's antinociception was blocked by intrathecal injection of 10 microg idazoxan, and this effect was not modified by RTX pretreatment. These findings suggest that subcutaneous BV stimulation of the Zusanli point activates central catecholaminergic neurons via capsaicin-insensitive afferent fibers without induction of nociceptive behavior. This in turn leads to the activation of spinal alpha2-adrenoceptors, which ultimately reduces formalin-evoked nociceptive behaviors. PERSPECTIVE: This study demonstrates that BV acupuncture produces a significant antinociception without nociceptive behavior in rodents, which is mediated by capsaicin-insensitive afferents and involves activation of central adrenergic circuits. These results further suggest that BV stimulation into this acupuncture point might be a valuable alternative to traditional electrical or mechanical acupoint stimulation.     

Differential antagonism of U69,593- and bremazocine-induced antinociception by (-)-UPHIT: evidence of kappa opioid receptor multiplicity in mice.

The effect of pretreatment with the kappa receptor nonequilibrium antagonist, (-)-UPHIT (1S,2S-trans-2-isothiocyanato-4,5-dichloro-N-methyl-N-[2-(1-pyrrol idinyl) cyclohexyl]benzeneacetamide), on U69,593 [(5 alpha,7 alpha,8 beta)-(-)-N-methyl-N-(7-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-1-oxaspiro(4,5) dec-8-yl)benzeneacetamide]- and bremazocine-induced antinociception was examined in mice. Both U69,593 and bremazocine produced antinociception in the warm water tail-flick test after i.c.v. administration. Pretreatment with the kappa antagonist, nor-binaltorphimine, at doses shown not to affect [D-Ala2, NMePhe4, Gly-ol]enkephalin- (mu-agonist) or [D-Pen2, D-Pen5]enkephalin (delta-agonist)-induced antinociception, significantly attenuated the effects of U69,593 and bremazocine, suggesting actions of these agonists at kappa receptors. Furthermore, beta-funaltrxamine (mu antagonist) and ICI 174,864 [N,N,-diallyl-Tyr-(alpha-aminoisobutyric acid)2-Phe-Leu-OH] (delta antagonist), had no effect on U69,593 or bremazocine in this test providing further evidence of kappa receptor-mediated activity. Pretreatment with (-)-UPHIT produced no effect alone and a long-lasting (up to 48 hr) antagonism of U69,593, but not bremazocine, antinociception. The antagonist actions of (-)-UPHIT did not alter the antinociceptive effects of [D-Ala2, NMePhe4, Gly-ol]enkephalin or [D-Pen2, D-Pen5]enkephalin. These data suggest that (-)-UPHIT is a selective, long-lasting kappa antagonist which can differentially antagonize the antinociception produced by these two kappa agonists. These data provide evidence in vivo supportive of kappa receptor subtypes in the mouse, and suggest that (-)-UPHIT may be a useful probe for the exploration of kappa receptor heterogeneity.     

Acute antinociceptive tolerance and asymmetric cross-tolerance between endomorphin-1 and endomorphin-2 given intracerebroventricularly in the mouse.

Development of tolerance in mice pretreated intracerebroventricularly with mu-opioid receptor agonist endomorphin-1, endomorphin-2, or [D-Ala(2),N-Me-Phe(4),Gly-ol(5)]-enkephalin (DAMGO) was compared between endomorphin-1- and endomorphin-2-induced antinociception with the tail-flick test. A 2-h pretreatment with endomorphin-1 (30 nmol) produced a 3-fold shift to the right in the dose-response curve for endomorphin-1. Similarly, a 1-h pretreatment with endomorphin-2 (70 nmol) caused a 3.9-fold shift to the right for endomorphin-2. In cross-tolerance experiments, pretreatment with endomorphin-2 (70 nmol) caused a 2.3-fold shift of the dose-response curve for endomorphin-1, whereas pretreatment with endomorphin-1 (30 nmol) caused no change of the endomorphin-2 dose-response curve. Thus, mice acutely tolerant to endomorphin-1 were not cross-tolerant to endomorphin-2, although mice made tolerant to endomorphin-2 were partially cross-tolerant to endomorphin-1; an asymmetric cross-tolerance occurred. Pretreatment with DAMGO 3 h before intracerebroventricular injection of endomorphin-1, endomorphin-2, or DAMGO attenuated markedly the antinociception induced by endomorphin-1 and DAMGO but not endomorphin-2. It is proposed that two separate subtypes of mu-opioid receptors are involved in antinociceptive effects induced by endomorphin-1 and endomorphin-2. One subtype of opioid mu-receptors is stimulated by DAMGO, endomorphin-1, and endomorphin-2, and another subtype of mu-opioid receptors is stimulated solely by endomorphin-2.     

Potentiation of pentazocine antinociception by tripelennamine in the rat

The effect of tripelennamine on pentazocine antinociception in rats was investigated utilizing a low temperature (51.5 degrees C) hot-plate technique. Tripelennamine (10 and 20 mg/kg i.p.) showed some antinociceptive activity, which was not antagonized by naloxone. Pentazocine antinociception was potentiated by simultaneous administration of a large dose (20 mg/kg) but not a small dose (5 mg/kg) of tripelennamine. Potentiation was not observed when tripelennamine was administered 2 hr before the injection of pentazocine and chronic administration of tripelennamine for 14 days did not alter pentazocine antinociceptive activity. After administration of pentazocine and tripelennamine, levels of pentazocine under concentration-time curves in the brain and plasma were slightly and significantly larger, respectively, than the levels obtained by the administration of pentazocine alone. After the administration of tripelennamine and pentazocine, the brain tripelennamine concentration at 1/4 hr was about 2.6 times that after the administration of tripelennamine alone. The results suggest that the effect of tripelennamine on pentazocine antinociception is additive; very little was through a mechanism of inhibition of pentazocine metabolism.