Nω-硝基-L-精氨酸甲酯抑制吗啡镇痛耐受大鼠中脑和脊髓一氧化氮合酶/N-甲基-D-天冬氨酸受体表达上调

采用热甩尾测痛法观察全身应用非特异性一氧化氮合酶（nitric oxide synthase,NOS）抑制剂——N^ω-硝基-L-精氨酸甲酯（L-NAME）对吗啡镇痛耐受形成的影响,并通过观察脊髓和中脑神经元型NOS（nNOS）和N-甲基-D-天冬氨酸（NMDA）受体亚单位表达的变化来阐释NO／NMDA受体在吗啡镇痛耐受形成中的作用。将36只健康成年Sprague-Dawley大鼠平均分为6组（每组6只）：1组为对照组,皮下注射生理盐水1ml;2、3、4、5和6组为处理组,分别皮下注射L-NAME10mg／kg、L-NAME20mg／kg、吗啡10mg／kg、L-NAME10mg／kg＋吗啡10mg／kg、L-NAME20mg／kg＋吗啡10mg／kg,每天2次。在注射前测量大鼠的热甩尾潜伏期（tail-flick latency,TFL）基础值,随后每天第一次给药50min后测量其TFL。第8天最后一次给药80min后（除2组和5组之外）断头取脊髓和中脑,采用RT-PCR技术测量nNOS以及NMDA受体1A（NR1A）和2A（NR2A）亚单位的表达。结果显示,2组大鼠第1天至第7天的TFL与基础值相比无显著差异;3组第7天时的TFL仍显著高于基础值;4组的TFL在第1天时最高,第2至第6天期间逐渐降低,第6天时与基础值相比无显著差异：5组的TFL在实验过程中呈下降趋势,虽然第7天时较第1天有所降低,但是仍然显著高于基础值;6组的TFL变化趋势与5组相同。PT—PCR分析结果显示,与1组相比,3组脊髓和中脑的nNOS mRNA表达显著降低,但NR1A mRNA和NR2A mRNA表达无显著改变;4组的nNOS mRNA、NR1A mRNA和NR2A mRNA表达均显著高于1组。与4组相比,6组的nNOS mRNA、NR1A mRNA和NR2A mRNA表达均显著降低。结果提示,吗啡镇痛耐受大鼠脊髓和中脑的nNOS和NMDA受体表达增加,联合应用L—NAME可抑制长期应用吗啡所致的nNOS表达增加和NMDA受体上调,延缓吗啡镇痛耐受的形成。本研究结果提示,脊髓和中脑的NO／NMDA受体与吗啡镇痛耐受形成密切相关。     

脑室注射组胺抑制大鼠胃酸分泌的外周机制

本文分析了第三脑室注射组胺（HA）抑制胃酸分泌效应的外周过程。雄性SD大鼠,摘除双侧肾上腺,用37℃的生理盐水通过恒流泵进行连续胃灌流。用注射器泵静脉每小时给药,观察其对五肽促胃液素（10μg/kg,iv）诱导的胃酸分泌的影响。结果如下：（1）切除双侧膈下迷走神经可阻断HA（1μg,icv）的中枢抑酸效应;（2）预先静脉注射硫酸阿托品［0.05mg／（kg·100min）］可阻断HA的中枢抑酸效应;（3）预先静脉注射生长抑素拮抗剂[2～4μg/（kg·100min）],可剂量依赖性地拮抗HA的中枢抑酸效应。结果提示：HA的中枢抑酸效应由迷走神经传出,可能通过乙酰胆碱M受体及引起生长抑素释放实现。     

L-精氨酸和氨基胍对大鼠内毒素性肺损伤治疗作用的实验研究

目的：观察L-精氨酸（L-arginine）和一氧化氮合酶抑制剂氨基胍（AG）对内毒素性肺损伤的治疗作用。方法：采用静脉注射脂多糖（LPS）制备内毒素性肺损伤大鼠模型。将48只SD大鼠随机分为6组：空白对照组、LPS模型组、AG治疗组（50mg／kg）、L-精氨酸（500mg／kg）、（250mg／kg）和L-精氨酸（250mg／kg）＋AG（50mg／kg）治疗组。经腹腔给药,实验过程中监测大鼠平均动脉压（MAP）,定时取静脉血测定血浆中NO含量,于规定时间处死大鼠,迅速取出肺脏,观察LPS引起大鼠急性肺损伤后肺系数、肺水肿情况和肺组织中丙二醛（MDA）含量、一氧化氮合酶（NOS）、超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）活性的变化,以及L-精氨酸和氨基胍分别单独给药和二者联合给药对内毒素性肺损伤的治疗作用。结果：氨基胍可明显升高MAP,降低肺系数和肺含水量,减少血浆中NO含量,可显著降低肺组织中NOS活性,减少MDA含量,增强SOD活性,改善肺损伤;L-精氨酸可明显降低肺系数和肺含水量,减少MDA含量,增强SOD活性;L-精氨酸与氨基胍联合应用亦得到上述类似结果。结论：L-精氨酸和氨基胍分别单独给药以及二者联合给药对内毒索性肺损伤均具有治疗作用。     

脊髓水平给予胍丁胺对鞘内吗啡镇痛的影响

目的：观察脊髓水平给予胍丁胺对鞘内吗啡镇痛作用的影响。方法：30只sD大鼠随机分为3组（n=10）：C1组：鞘内注射生理盐水（10出）;M1组：鞘内注射吗啡（15μg／10μl）;AMI组：鞘内同时给予吗啡15μg＋胍丁胺12．5μg／10出。所有大鼠均于鞘内给药后5min于跖部皮下注射蜜蜂毒50m（0．2mg）致痛,观察并纪录1h内大鼠的自发缩足反射次数。另30只SD大鼠分组为C2,M2和AM2（n=10）,每组给药分别同前,用来测定机械痛阈和热刺激阈值。结果：与C1组比较,M1组1h内大鼠的自发缩足反射次数显著减少,提示鞘内注射吗啡对蜜蜂毒诱致的自发痛具有显著性抑制作用（P〈0．05）;鞘内同时给予吗啡和胍丁胺（AM1组）,大鼠自发缩足反射次数进一步减少,与M1组比较具有显著性意义（P〈0．05）。与对照组C2组比较,M2组大鼠的热刺激闽值和机械性痛闽明显提高;AM2组热刺激潜伏期显著延长,机械刺激阈值显著提高;AM2组与M2组比较热刺激潜伏期和机械刺激阈值有统计学差异（P〈0．05）。结论：鞘内胍丁胺和吗啡联合用药可显著增强吗啡对蜜蜂毒诱致自发痛的抑制作用,具有加强效应。     

丹参联合β-榄香烯对肝星形细胞LX-2增殖和凋亡的影响

目的：探讨丹参联合B-榄香烯对肝星形细胞LX-2增殖和凋亡的影响。方法：体外培养肝星形细胞LX-2,分别将丹参（浓度为1、2、4、6、8mg／ml）,β-榄香烯（浓度为25、50、100、150、200μg／ml）,单独作用于LX-2细胞后24h、48h用CCK-8（CellCountKit-8）法检测细胞的增殖情况,并选取合适的药物浓度（丹参3．6mg／ml,β-榄香烯125μg／ml）,然后进行联合用药,加药24h、48h后用CCK-8（Cell CountKit-8）法检测细胞的增殖情况,用流式细胞术检测细胞的凋亡率。结果：OCCK-8法显示丹参（浓度为1、2、4、6、8mg／ml）,8-榄香烯（浓度为25、50、100、150、200μg／ml）作用LX-2细胞24h、48h后,其增殖抑制率均明显高于正常对照组（P〈0．05）,并且呈浓度和时间依赖性。②联合用药（丹参3．6mg／ml,β-榄香烯125μg／ml）时,LX-2细胞的增殖抑制率和凋亡率均显著高于单独用药（P〈0．01）。结论：丹参、β-榄香烯单独或二者联合作用均能抑制LX-2细胞的增殖,且联合应用的作用显著高于单独用药,可协同促进LX-2细胞的凋亡。     

区域性血管床对局部注射胍丁胺的不同反应

在66只麻醉大鼠,分别采用后肢、肾脏和肠系膜动脉在体恒流灌注法,观察了向灌注环路中直接注射胍丁胺（agmatine,AGM）的血管效应,以所引起的灌流压增减反映血管的收缩和舒张。所得结果如下：（1）不同剂量的AGM（0.1、0.5、1mg/kg）注射于股部灌注环路时,可剂量依赖性地增高后肢血管的灌流压。无论预先注射咪唑啉受体(imidazoline receptor,IR）和α2－肾上腺素能受体阻断剂（α2－adrenergic receptor,α2－AR）idazoxan(0.5mg/kg）或注射α2-肾上腺素能受体阻断剂yohimbine(1mg/kg）均可完全阻抑上述AGM的效应。（2）向肾血管灌注环路中直接注射AGM也可剂量依赖性地增高肾血管的灌流压,需特别指出的是：大剂量AGM（1mg/mg）引起肾血管双相的灌注压增高,此效应可被idazoxan完全阻断。而在预先应用yohimbine后,再注射AGM则引起肾血管灌流压降低。（3）在肠系膜血管灌流环路中注射AGM可剂量依赖性地降低其灌流压。此效应可被idazoxan(0.5mg/kg）完全阻断,而yohimbine(1mg/kg）对此无作用。根据上述结果得出的结论是,AGM对后肢、肾脏和肠系膜血管床的血管紧张性具有不同的作用。     

大鼠脊髓中的去甲肾上腺素在吗啡镇痛中的作用

本文报道中枢去甲肾上腺素(NE)能下行系统的脊髓末梢以及脊髓内的α受体在吗啡镇痛机制中的作用。结果显示,皮下注射6mg/kg 吗啡可使脊髓中的 NE 代谢终产物3-甲氧基4-羟基苯乙二醇硫酸盐(MHPG·SO_4)含量升高,提示脊髓 NE 的更新加速;反复多次注射吗啡引起吗啡镇痛耐受的动物,该反应消失。脊髓蛛网膜下腔注射α受体阻断剂酚妥拉明可部分对抗全身注射小剂量吗啡的镇痛作用,选择性的α_1受体阻断剂哌唑嗪或α_2受体阻断剂育亨宾有类似作用。阻断脊髓α_1或α_2受体对脊髓蛛网膜下腔直接注射微量吗啡的镇痛作用无显著影响,以上结果表明,下行 NE 能系统在吗啡镇痛机制中具有重要作用。     

alpha- 乳香酸联用羟基红花黄色素A抗胃溃疡效果研究

目的：研究乳香红花提取物中主要药效物质alpha-乳香酸（alpha-BA）和羟基红花黄色素A（HSYA）联合应用的胃保护效果。方法： 36 只SD 大鼠随机分为6 组：正常组（生理盐水5 mL/kg）,模型组（生理盐水5 mL/kg）,西咪替丁组（100 mg/kg）,HSYA 组（100 mg/kg）,alpha-BA 组（200 mg/kg）,联合用药组（HSYA 50 mg/kg+alpha-BA 100 mg/kg）。预给药1 小时后,用乙醇诱导SD 大鼠胃溃疡造 模,评价溃疡指数、胃内容物酸度、胃壁黏液量,用ELISA法检测血清炎性因子TNF-alpha、IL-1beta、IL-8。结果：①与造模组相比,alpha-BA 组和联合用药组显著降低乙醇诱导胃粘膜损伤（P＜0.001）且联合用药组较西咪替丁组相比差异无统计学意义,但HSYA组差异 无统计学意义;与造模组相比,alpha-BA组和联合用药组显著升高胃内容物pH,增加胃黏液含量（P＜0.001）且联合用药组与西咪替 丁组相比差异无统计学意义,但HSYA 组仅胃黏液含量有一定升高（P＜0.05）,胃内容物pH 没有明显改变。②与造模组相比, HSYA 组、alpha-BA组、联合用药组均显著抑制血清TNF-alpha、IL-1beta、IL-8 的升高（P＜0.001）且联合用药组与西咪替丁组相比差异无统 计学意义。③H&E 染色观察可见HSYA组依然有明显出血性损伤;西咪替丁组、琢-BA组和联合用药组则明显保护胃黏膜、抑制 损伤和白细胞浸润。结论：alpha-BA有较好的胃保护效果,HSYA胃保护效果显著低于alpha-BA,但联合应用HSYA、alpha-BA能够抑制胃 黏膜出血、白细胞浸润、抑制胃内容物酸度,增加胃黏液含量,并且能够调节血清炎性因子从而发挥较单用药用量更少且效果更 好的胃保护作用。     

家兔中脑导水管周围灰质中注射八肽胆囊收缩素(CCK-8)拮抗吗啡镇痛和电针镇痛

家兔单侧PAG内注射CCK-83ng,能使静脉注射4mg/kg吗啡引起的镇痛作用降低73％或使电针镇痛效果降低67％。在1.5—6.0ng范围内呈量效关系。无硫的CCK-8无此作用。PAG内注射CCK受体拮抗剂proglumide 4μg可翻转CCK-8的抗吗啡镇痛作用。说明PAG部位注射外源性CCK-8可通过CCK受体对抗阿片镇痛。 PAG内注射CCK-8抗血清可显著增强静脉注射2mg/kg吗啡的镇痛效果。PAG内注射CCK抗血清本身也能引起痛阈轻度升高。说明PAG内有内源性的CCK-8发挥紧张性的抗阿片镇痛作用。     

蝎毒中枢镇痛机制的初步探讨

目的：研究BmK蝎毒是能过何种受体实现其中枢镇痛作用的;外侧隔核是否是BmK蝎毒产生中枢镇痛作用的重要部位之一。方法：用辐射热一甩尾法测定痛阈,用玻璃微电极记录束旁核的单位放电;通过不锈钢套管向侧脑室和外侧隔核内微量注射0.01％BmK蝎毒。结果：向大鼠侧脑室2μl0.01%蝎毒可明显升高痛阂。该效应可被侧脑室注射2μl0.25%纳洛酮完全翻转,向隔核内注射0.5μl0.01%BmK蝎毒,分别对束帝核中的71％（15／21）痛兴奋单位和83％（5／6）痛抑制单位对痛刺激的反应减北,而对痛无关单位的电活动夫明显影响。结论：BmK蝎毒的中枢镇痛作用可能主要是通过吗啡受体实现的;隔核是BmK蝎毒产生中枢镇痛作用的重要部位之一。     

The effects of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide on acute and chronic morphine actions in mice

The effects of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) on pain sensitivity, on morphine analgesia, on morphine tolerance and withdrawal were investigated in mice. The heat-radiant tail-flick test was used to assess antinociceptive threshold. Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of PACAP alone had no effect on pain sensitivity but in a dose of 500 ng, it significantly diminished the analgesic effect of a single dose of morphine (2.25 mg/kg, s.c.). PACAP (500 ng, i.c.v.) significantly increased the chronic tolerance to morphine and enhanced the naloxone (1 mg/kg, s.c.)-precipitated withdrawal jumping. Theophylline (1 mg/kg, i.p.) pretreatment significantly enhanced the effect of PACAP on morphine analgesia but the effects of PACAP on tolerance and withdrawal were unaffected upon theophylline administration. On the grounds of our previous studies with vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), it appears that different receptors are involved in the effects of PACAP in acute and chronic morphine actions. Our results indicate that PACAP-induced actions likely participate in acute and chronic effects of morphine and suggest a potential role of PACAP in opioid analgesia, tolerance and withdrawal.     

Effect of methamphetamine on the development of acute morphine tolerance and dependence in mice

The effect of methamphetamine on morphine analgesia (tail-flick assay) was studied in non-tolerant mice and in mice made acutely tolerant to morphine following a single injection of 100 mg/kg morphine. The analgesic potency of morphine was increased in non-tolerant and tolerant mice to the same extent by 3.2 mg/kg methamphetamine (3.3 and 4.4 fold increases, respectively). In contrast, the ED50's for morphine analgesia and naloxone-precipitated jumping in mice pretreated with either 100 mg/kg morphine or both morphine and 3.2 mg/kg methamphetamine were not significantly different, indicating that methamphetamine had no effect on the development of acute morphine tolerance and dependence. Although methamphetamine had no effect on the development of acute tolerance to morphine, 4-day pretreatment with methamphetamine produced cross-tolerance to morphine analgesia. However, cross-tolerance to morphine was not accompanied by enchanced sensitivity to naloxone.     

Analgesic properties of a systemically-administered synthetic dipeptide of 5-hydroxytryptophan

Synthetic peptides of 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), including N-acetyl-5-HTP-5-HTP amide (5-HTP-ACETYL-DP), specifically inhibit the binding of serotonin to serotonin binding protein. 5-HTP-ACETYL-DP also produces a long-lasting, opiate-sensitive analgesia following central, but not systemic administration. The present study evaluated an apolar derivative of 5-HTP dipeptide, N-hexanoyl-5-HTP-5-HTP amide (5-HTP-HEX-DP), for its analgesic properties in rats following systemic administration. 5-HTP-HEX-DP (5–50 mg/kg) significantly increased jump thresholds in a dose-dependent manner with peak analgesia occurring at 2.5 hr after injection, and lasting up to 5 hr. In the tail-flick assay, 5-HTP-HEX-DP (20 mg/kg) produced a significant antinociceptive effect at 1 hr post-injection using both high and low intensity levels of radiant heat. While 5-HTP-HEX-DP and morphine each elicited analgesia following acute administration, chronic (14 days) incremental dosing with 5-HTP-HEX-DP or morphine resulted in persistent analgesia in 5-HTP-HEX-DP-treated animals, and a loss of analgesia in morphine-treated rats. Thus, significant tolerance to morphine, but not 5-HTP-HEX-DP analgesia developed using this protocol. Hence, 5-HTP-HEX-DP is a systemically-active analgesic which fails to develop tolerance when administered daily over 14 days.     

Environmental and intraperitoneal ethanol influences morphine antinociceptive effect in mice

The ability of acute environmental or intraperitoneal (i.p.) ethanol to influence morphine antinociceptive effect was studied in mice. In order to induce tolerance to morphine analgesia, mice received daily injections of 10 mg/Kg morphine over a period of 10 days. Mice were divided into three groups: i.p. ethanol (E), environmental ethanol (E*), and control saline (M). During the induction of tolerance these groups were treated identically except on days 1 and 11. On these days, 10 minutes prior to morphine injection, mice received either i.p. ethanol (1g/Kg), environmental ethanol (a bottle of 10% ethanol placed next to the animals cage during the experiments), or an equivalent volume of saline. Analgesia was assessed using a standard hot plate protocol and dose-response cumulative curves for morphine analgesia were obtained on days 1 and 11. On day 1, both the i.p. and environmental administration of ethanol showed similar morphine-potentiation effects [Mean Effective Dose: ED50 (M1)=4.5 mg/kg; ED50 (E1)=2.4 mg/kg; ED50 (E*1)=2.1 mg/kg]. On day 11, control group mice showed a reduction of morphine analgesia at test [ED50 (M11)=14.1 mg/kg]. Mice receiving i.p. and environmental ethanol again showed a leftward shift in dose-response cumulative curves for morphine antinociception with respect to controls [ED50 (E11)=9.1 mg/kg; ED50 (E*11)=4.7 mg/kg]. I.p. ethanol administration at non-antinociceptive doses enhances the morphine antinociception effect similarly in tolerant and non-tolerant (naive) mice. The presence of environmental ethanol can also induce a similar pattern of increase in morphine antinociception effect.     

Dissociation of tolerance to the analgesic and hypothermic effects of morphine by using thyrotropin releasing hormone

The effects of thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) on tolerance to the analgesic and hypothermic effects of morphine were determined in male Swiss Webster mice. The tolerance to morphine was induced by SC implantation of a morphine pellet containing 75 mg morphine free base for 3 days. Subcutaneous injections of TRH (4 mg/kg) twice a day inhibited tolerance to the analgesic effect of morphine, as evidenced by a greater degree of analgesia in TRH treated mice as compared with similarly treated vehicle injected controls. The same treatment, however, failed to modify tolerance to the hypothermic effect of morphine. These effects were produced with alterations in brain or plasma levels of morphine. It is concluded that tolerance to the two pharmacological effects of morphine may involve separate mechanism.     

Effects of systemically administered monoamine reuptake blocking agents on patterns of buspirone-induced analgesia in rats

We have recently shown the serotonin 5-HT1A receptor agonist buspirone to produce analgesia in several pain tests in rats. As a 5-HT1A agonist, buspirone may change serotonergic (5-HT) tone to alter the balance of central monoaminergic (MA) systems that function in analgesia. MA-reuptake blocking drugs have been shown to produce analgesia, both when given alone and in combination with a variety of other agents, presumably via their action upon MA neurochemistry. The present study was undertaken to examine the effect of systemic administration of the 5-HT-reuptake blocker amitriptyline (AMI: 10 mg/kg), NE-reuptake blocker desipramine (DMI: 10 mg/kg) or DA-reuptake blocker GBR-12909 (7.5 mg/kg) on patterns of analgesia produced by buspirone (1-5 mg/kg) in thermal and mechanical pain tests in rats. Neither reuptake blocking agents or buspirone, when administered alone or in combination, produced overt changes in motor activity at the doses tested. AMI alone was not analgesic in either thermal or mechanical pain tests. In both assays, AMI reduced the analgesic action of buspirone, with greater effects seen in the thermal test. When administered alone, DMI produced significant analgesia against thermal and mechanical pain. DMI significantly attenuated the analgesic action of all doses of buspirone in both pain tests. Alone, GBR-12909 did not affect nociception in thermal or mechanical tests. GBR-12909 decreased buspirone-induced analgesia at all doses in the thermal test, while having no effect on buspirone-induced analgesia against mechanical pain. These results demonstrate that facilitation of 5-HT, NE and DA function with reuptake blocking drugs did not enhance the analgesic action of buspirone. These data indicate against the adjuvant use of reuptake blocking compounds and buspirone as analgesics. Furthermore, such findings may suggest other possible non-MA substrates of buspirone-induced analgesia.     

Enhanced development of dispositional tolerance to methadone by desipramine given together with methadone

Rats given 2-day oral administration of methadone (15 mg/kg, twice on day 1 and once on day 2) by gastric tube developed dispositional tolerance to methadone analgesia as demonstrated by a decrease in analgesic response and by an increase in methadone metabolism. The increased metabolism of methadone was evidenced by a decrease in brain concentration of 14C-methadone and increases in the percentages of total 14C in liver or urine as 14C-water-soluble metabolites (14C-WSM) after the rats were challenged with a test dose of 14C-methadone. Two-day pretreatment with a combination of desipramine (DMI) (10 mg/kg, ip) and methadone (15 mg/kg, po) enhanced the development of dispositional tolerance to methadone analgesia which was evidenced by a greater decrease in the brain concentration of methadone and a greater increase in methadone metabolism as compared to those changes in rats pretreated with only methadone. Repeated treatment with DMI alone neither decreased the analgesic effect of methadone nor stimulated methadone metabolism. It is suggested that DMI given together with methadone promoted the induction of methadone metabolism in the liver by prolonging the enzyme-stimulating state of methadone, thus enhancing the development of dispositional tolerance to methadone.     

Microwave-induced and pharmacological suppression of somatic pain under conditions of the formalin test in mice

We examined pain-related behavioral reactions and non-pain behavioral manifestations in mice under conditions of the formalin test. Levels of analgesia induced by i.p. injections of analgin, microwave irradiation of an antinociceptive acupuncture point (AP), E-36, or combined application of the above factors were measured. The duration of the pain behavioral reaction (licking of the injured limb) decreased due to irradiation of the AP with microwaves and to injection of 8.3 mg/kg analgin by 24.3% and 53.8%, on average, respectively. Combination of injection of analgin in a smaller dose (4.2 mg/kg) and microwave irradiation of the AP suppressed manifestations of the pain behavioral reaction by 43.4%. Thus, combination of pharmacologically induced analgesia with the action of microwaves on the antinociceptive AP allows one to significantly decrease the doses of analgesic preparations necessary to provide a full-level analgesic effect; in such a way, side effects of the respective drugs can be weakened. Neirofiziologiya/Neurophysiology, Vol. 38, No. 1, pp. 46–51, January–February, 2006.     

家兔中脑导水管周围灰质中注射八肽胆囊收缩素（CCK—8）拮抗吗啡镇痛和...

We have reported that intracerebroventricular (i. c. v.) injection of 1-4 ng of CCK-8 to the rat produced a remarkable antagonistic effect on morphine analgesia. In order to study the species specificity and the site of action, CCK-8 was microinjected into the PAG of the rabbit, and its influence on morphine analgesia and electroacupuncture analgesia was observed. The latency of the escape response (ERL) to radiant heat focused on the snout was measured as an index of the pain threshold. Microinjections were made via cannulae chronically implanted into the PAG. The drug solutions were delivered in a volume of 1 microliter, at a speed of 0.125 microliter/min. The ERL was measured for a period of 60 or 70 minutes at 10 min intervals. 1. CCK-8 administered unilaterally to the PAG of the rabbit at a dose of 3 ng antagonized the analgesia induced by morphine (4 mg/kg, i. v.) by 73% (P less than 0.001), and reduced the analgesic effect of electroacupuncture by 67% (P less than 0.001). These effects were dose-dependent within the range from 1.5 ng to 6.0 ng. The effect of CCK-8 was reversed by CCK receptor blocker proglumide (4 microliters, intra-PAG injection). Unsulfated CCK-8 (CCK-us) had no effect in this regard. These results indicate that in the PAG of the rabbit, exogenously administered CCK-8 was capable of antagonizing opioid analgesia by the activation of CCK receptors. 2. Two groups of rabbits were given with morphine (2 mg/kg, i. v.) and simultaneous injection of CCK-8 antiserum (CCK-AS, 1 microliter) or normal rabbit serum (NRS) into the PAG.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)