Analgesia induced by intrathecal injection of dynorphin B in the rat

A dose-dependent analgesic effect of intrathecally injected dynorphin B was observed in rats using the tail flick as nociceptive test. Intrathecal injection of 20 nmol of dynorphin B increased the tail flick latency by 90 +/- 23%, an effect that lasted about 90 min. For the same degree of analgesia, dynorphin B was 50% more potent than morphine on a molar basis. The analgesic effect of this dose of dynorphin B was partially blocked by 10 mg/kg, but not by 1 mg/kg, of subcutaneous naloxone, showing a relative resistance to naloxone reversal as compared with morphine analgesia. The analgesia produced by dynorphin B was unchanged in morphine-tolerant rats but was significantly decreased in rats tolerant to ethylketazocine. These results suggest that dynorphin B produces its potent analgesic effect by activation of kappa rather than mu opioid receptors in the rat spinal cord.     

The effect of intracerebroventricular 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine on morphine analgesia is time-dependent

The analgesic effect of morphine in the tail immersion test was studied in rats three and ten days after intracerebroventricular 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine (5,7-DHT) given to selectively destroy serotonergic neurons. Morphine analgesia was reduced three but not ten days after the neurotoxin. Ten days after 5,7-DHT, the inhibiting effect of metergoline, a serotonin antagonist, on morphine analgesia was still present, suggesting that functional recovery of the serotonergic system may partly explain the different results.     

Dynorphin: potent analgesic effect in spinal cord of the rat

Evidence is presented to show a strong and long-lasting analgesic effect after injection of dynorphin into the subarachnoid space of the spinal cord of the rat. Calculating on a molar basis dynorphin was 6-10 times more potent than morphine and 65-100 times more potent than morphiceptin, the specific mu receptor agonist. Dynorphin analgesia was completely reversed by intrathecal injection of anti-dynorphin IgG and partially reversed by naloxone. Acute tolerance to morphine analgesia did not affect the occurrence of dynorphin analgesia. Evidence from different lines of approach suggest that dynorphin may bind with kappa receptors in the spinal cord to exert its analgesic effect.     

Dynorphin-A-(1–13) antagonizes morphine analgesia in the brain and potentiates morphine analgesia in the spinal cord

Intrathecal injection of subanalgesic doses of morphine (7.5 nmol) and dynorphin-A-(1–13) (1.25 nmol) in combination resulted in a marked analgesic effect as assessed by tail flick latency in the rat. The analgesic effect of the composite dynorphin/morphine was dose-dependent in serial dilutions so that a composition of 1/8 of the analgesic dose of dynorphin and 1/3 that of morphine produced an analgesic effect equipotent to full dose of either drug applied separately. The analgesic effect induced by dynorphin/morphine mixture was not accompanied by motor dysfunction and was easily reversed by a small dose (0.5 mg/kg) of naloxone. Contrary to the augmentatory effect of dynorphin on morphine analgesia in the spinal cord, intracerevroventricular (ICV) injection of 20 nmol of dynorphin-A-(1–13) exhibited a marked antagonistic effect on the analgesia produced by morphine (120 nmol, ICV). The theoretical considerations and practical implications of the differential interactions between dynorphin-A-(1–13) and morphine in the brain versus spinal cord are discussed.     

A spinal site mediates opiate analgesia in frogs

The application of acetic acid to the hind leg of a frog will induce a spinally mediated wiping reflex only if the acetic acid concentration is above a certain threshold. By using this reflex as the basis of a test for nociception, we show that morphine sulfate is a potent analgesic in the frog when injected into the lumbar area of the spinal cord. Significant analgesia is induced within 5 min after injection of as little as 0.0316 μg of morphine sulfate. Low doses of morphine sulfate (0.0316 or 0.1 μg) induce analgesia which dissipates within 1 h while for higher doses (0.316, 1.0 or 3.16 μg) the analgesia persists for at least 3 h. The analgesic effect of 0.316 μg of morphine sulfate is completely blocked by naloxone HCl at either 0.158 or 0.316 μg. Animals receiving naloxone alone (0.316 μg) appear to be slightly hyperalgesic compared to saline injected controls but this effect is not significant.     

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)     

Inhibition of cardiac Na+, K+-ATPase activity by dynorphin-A and ethylketocyclazocine

The effect of various opioids on Na+, K+ -ATPase partially purified from rat heart was examined. Dynorphin-A (1-13), dynorphin-A (1-17) and ethylketocyclazocine (EKC), which are k-type opiate agonists, markedly inhibited the enzyme activity in a dose-dependent manner; IC50 values were 12 microM, 21 microM and 0.38 mM, respectively. Morphine (mu-type agonist), methionine- and leucine-enkephalin (delta-type agonist) at the concentration of 1 mM did not affect the enzyme activity. The effect of dynorphin-A (1-13) and EKC was not antagonized by naloxone. Dynorphin-A (1-13) mainly decreased Vmax value without the change of Km value in the activation of Na+, K+-ATPase by ATP, Na+ and K+. Dynorphin-A(1-13) inhibited the partial reactions of Na+, K+-ATPase at the different degree of the potency; the inhibition of K+-stimulated phosphatase was greater than that of Na+-dependent phosphorylation. The present study suggests that dynorphin-A and EKC have an effect on cardiovascular system which is mediated by the inhibition of Na+, K+-ATPase in the heart.     

The effect of opiates and opiate antagonists on heat latency response in the parasitic nematode Ascaris suum

The effects of the opiates morphine and morphine-6-glucuronide (M6G), the mu opioid receptor specific antagonist D-Phe-Cys-Tyr-D-Trp-Om-Thr-Pen-Thr-NH(2) (CTOP), and the general opiate antagonist naloxone on the latency of response to thermal stimulation were determined in the parasitic nematode Ascaris suum. Thermal detection and avoidance behaviors of the worms were evaluated with a tail flick analgesia meter using a modification of a technique employed for nociception experiments in rodents. Morphine and M6G were shown to have a dose dependent analgesic effect on A. suum's latency of response to heat with morphine being the most potent. The analgesic effect of morphine was reversed by naloxone but not CTOP. Neither naloxone nor CTOP was able to block the analgesia of M6G. CTOP but not naloxone had significant analgesic effects on its own. These findings are generally consistent with previous results on the effects of opiates and nitric oxide release from A. suum tissue. Apparently these nematodes possess opioid receptors that effect nociception.     

Nandrolone modulates the non-opioid and opioid analgesia and tolerance/dependence: role of sexual dimorphism

The aim of this investigation was to study the effect of the doping steroid nandrolone on metamizol and morphine-induced analgesia and tolerance/dependence in rats. Nandrolone per se did not change the basal nociceptive thresholds in both sexes. It diminished the analgesic effect of metamizol in females, revealed by tail flick test, and males, revealed by paw pressure and hot plate tests. In general, the action of nandrolone was to decrease the morphine-induced analgesia in female and male rats. This was strongly manifested by paw pressure and tail flick tests in male, and tail flick tests in female animals. Nandrolone slowed the development of opioid tolerance/dependence. It aggravated the withdrawal syndrome in the females and invigorated aggression in the males. The data provide evidence that anabolic steroid nandrolone might decrease the analgesic action of metamizol or morphine. The doping steroid could modulate opioid tolerance/dependence and the aggressive behavior in a gender dependent manner. The action of nandrolone is most likely due to profound long-term effects on the central nervous system and might be a gateway to addiction of other drugs of abuse.     

Antagonism of morphine analgesia by CCK-8-S does not extend to all assays nor all opiate analgesics

The conditions under which CCK-8-S may block opiate-induced analgesia were examined in detail. A U-shaped dose-response relationship was observed for the ability of CCK-8-S to attenuate (by approximately 50%, at most) morphine-induced tail flick analgesia. The analgesic effects of morphine in the hot plate or acetic acid-induced stretching tests were not altered by CCK-8-S at doses that antagonized morphine in the tail flick test. Tail flick latency elevations induced by meptazinol, a putative mu-1 receptor agonist, were also attenuated by CCK-8-S according to a U-shaped dose-response relationship, but those induced by U-50,488, a kappa agonist, were not antagonized by CCK-8-S doses that attenuated morphine analgesia. Thus, the ability of CCK-8-S to antagonize opiate analgesia does not follow a conventional dose-response relationship, does not extend to all tests of analgesia and may not extend to all opioid drugs. Analgesia mediated by the mu-1 opioid receptor subtype may be more amenable to antagonism by CCK-8-S than that mediated by the kappa receptor subtype.     

家兔伏核—杏仁核神经通路在吗啡镇痛中的作用

用辐射热照射家兔鼻嘴侧部皮肤,测量其躲避反应潜伏期作为痛反应阈,简称痛阈。通过预先埋植的慢性套管向伏核或杏仁核内进行注射,结果表明:(1)在家兔的伏核内微量注射吗啡可产生镇痛作用,该作用可被杏仁核内注射纳洛酮所削弱,并有量效依从关系;在杏仁核内注射甲啡肽抗血清(ME AS)或β-內啡肽抗血清(β-EP AS)亦可削弱上述镇痛作用;(2)在杏仁核内微量注射吗啡可产生镇痛作用,此作用不能被伏核内注射纳洛酮所阻断;(3)在伏核内注射吗啡所产生的镇痛作用可被同一部位注射γ-氨基丁酸(GAEA)受体阻断剂氯甲基荷包牡丹碱所增强,被 GABA 受体激动剂异鹅羔胺所削弱。上述结果提示:在家兔脑内从伏核到杏仁核可能存在一条与镇痛有关的神经通路,伏核内的阿片样物质及杏仁核内的甲啡肽,β-内啡肽可能参与镇痛信息的传递,而伏核内的 GABA 可能有对抗吗啡镇痛的作用。     

Potent analgesic activity of the enkephalin-like tetrapeptide H-Tyr-D-Ala-Gly-Phe-NH2.

The N-terminal tetrapeptide amide analog of enkephalin (H-Tyr-D-Ala-Gly-Phe-NH₂) is approximately equipotent with highly active pentapeptide analogs of enkephalin (and with morphine) in producing analgesia after either intracerebroventricular or intravenous administration. Smaller fragments exhibited diminished potency, but even the dipeptide (H-Tyr-D-Ala-NH₂) retained naloxone-reversible analgesic activity at high intraventricular doses. These findings suggest that while the dipeptide has full intrinsic activity, the tetrapeptide sequence may be a minimum structural requirement for potent analgesia.     

Bremazocine: a potent, long-acting opiate kappa-agonist

The benzomorphan analogue bremazocine is a potent, centrally-acting analgesic with a long duration of action. In animal models it is free of physical and psychological dependence liability, produces no respiratory depression, and has a variety of other properties which justify its classification as a putative opiate kappa-receptor agonist.Binding studies with tritiated (?)-bremazocine on rat brain membrane preparations show that this molecule differs in its binding properties from previously investigated exogenous or endogenous opioids. Studies on isolated guinea-pig ileum and mouse vas deferens indicate a preference for opiate kappa-receptors.In mice (hot plate, tail flick) and rhesus monkeys (shock titration), bremazocine is a potent analgesic with a long duration of action. Here also, the actions of the antagonists naloxone and Mr 2266 suggest a preference for opiate kappa-receptors.Bremazocine differs from morphine in the non-production of mydriasis and the Straub tail phenomenon in mice, in its lack of effects on respiration in rats, in that it is not self-administered by rhesus monkeys, and in that programmed administration in the same species does not lead to a morphine-like withdrawal syndrome upon cessation of drug treatment or upon naloxone challenge. Prolonged treatment of animals with bremazocine leads to tolerance to its analgesic effects; morphine treatment of such tolerant animals causes analgesia. Conversely, treatment of morphine-tolerant animals with bremazocine does not cause analgesia; these findings suggest that morphine and bremazocine interact with different subpopulations of opiate receptors.     

Acute analgesic effect of loperamide as compared to morphine after intrathecal administration in rat

Loperamide, a mu opioid receptor agonist, which is commonly used as an antidiarrhoeal agent has been reported to possess analgesic activity after intrathecal administration. However, the exact analgesic profile, i.e., onset, duration and intensity of analgesia in relation to morphine is not fully known. In the present study, the acute analgesic effect of loperamide (5 microg) was compared with that of morphine (5 microg) and morphine + loperamide (5 microg of each) using the tail flick method after intrathecal administration. Naloxone (5 mg/kg) reversibility of the analgesic effect was also studied. The analgesic response of loperamide was significantly higher than morphine. Even after 22 hr, maximum possible effect was greater than 49%. Naloxone partially antagonized the analgesic effect of loperamide. This suggested that loperamide may be acting through blockade of Ca2+ channels besides activating mu opioid receptors. Loperamide may prove to be a better substitute for morphine as spinal analgesic.     

吗啡和血管紧张素II对大鼠脑突触小体Ca^2＋摄取的拮抗效应

Behavioral observations have repeatedly shown that the analgesic effect of morphine can be antagonized by intracerebroventricular injection of angiotensin I (A I), although mechanisms underlying the action were obscure. Since a prevention of Ca2+ uptake into the nerve terminals was considered as one of the mechanisms for morphine analgesia, we examined the effect of A I and morphine on the 45Ca uptake by rat brain synaptosomal preparations. Morphine of 10(-8)-10(-6) mol/L produced a dose-related suppression on synaptosomal 45Ca uptake, which was completely reversed by the opioid antagonist naloxone of 10(-6) mol/L. A I of 10(-8)-10(-6) mol/L, on the contrary, enhanced 45Ca uptake. This effect was totally abolished by saralasin, a A I antagonist, at 10(-6) mol/L. When synaptosomal preparations were incubated in a mixture of morphine (10(-6) mol/L) and A I (10(-8)-10(-6) mol/L), the effect of morphine was almost completely reversed. The results suggest that the distinct effect of A I may account for, at least in part, the antagonistic effect of A I on morphine analgesia.     

Circadian-Rhythm-dependent Effects of L-NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester (L-Name) on Morphine-Induced Analgesia

Circadian changes in the interactions between L-N^G-nitroarginine methyl ester (L-NAME), a nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor, and morphine-induced antinociception were investigated by the mouse hot-plate test. Born the basal pain sensitivity and morphine-induced analgesia undergo significant 24h variations. L-NAME (40 mg/kg, ip) alone did not show any antinociceptive activity, but potentiated morphine-induced analgesia when combined with morphine at all injection times. In terms of percentage absolute potentiation (%AP), L-NAME dramatically augmented the analgesic effect of morphine in the late dark period at 19 hours after lights on (HALO). It is concluded that nitric oxide (NO) is involved in the modulation of the analgesic effect of morphine; thus, the L-NAME and morphine combination might be beneficial in alleviating pain.     

Relationship between enhancement of morphine analgesia and inhibition of enkephalinase by 2S, 3R 3-amino-2-hydroxy-4-phenylbutanoic acid derivatives

The effects of nineteen AHPA* derivatives were examined on morphine analgesia by tail-flick test in rats and on enkephalinase inhibition which was based on the formation of tyrosyl-glycyl-glycine from met-enkephalin. The correlation between the enhancement of morphine analgesia in vivo and enkephalinase inhibition in vitro was analyzed. The different analogs varied considerably in the degree of enhancement of morphine analgesia and inhibition of enkephalinase. A close relationship between enkephalinase inhibition expressed by IC50 in vitro and enhancement of morphine analgesia in vivo was observed in thirteen out of nineteen AHPA derivatives examined. One of other six AHPA derivatives which showed weak effectiveness in potentiating on morphine analgesia but was highly potent as an enkephalinase inhibitor, caused potent analgesic action when it was applied intracisternally indicating poor penetration of the blood brain barrier. The possibility was discussed that some of other compounds excluded from the linear relationship might act on other enkephalin degrading enzymes such as aminopeptidase.     

Central administration of neuropeptide FF and related peptides attenuate systemic morphine analgesia in mice

Neuropeptide FF (NPFF) belongs to an opioid-modulating peptide family. NPFF has been reported to play important roles in the control of pain and analgesia through interactions with the opioid system. However, very few studies examined the effect of supraspinal NPFF system on analgesia induced by opiates administered at the peripheral level. In the present study, intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of NPFF (1, 3 and 10 nmol) dose-dependently inhibited systemic morphine (0.12 mg, i.p.) analgesia in the mouse tail flick test. Similarly, i.c.v. administration of dNPA and NPVF, two agonists highly selective for NPFF(2) and NPFF(1) receptors, respectively, decreased analgesia induced by i.p. morphine in mice. Furthermore, these anti-opioid activities of NPFF and related peptides were blocked by pretreatment with the NPFF receptors selective antagonist RF9 (10 nmol, i.c.v.). These results demonstrate that activation of central NPFF(1) and NPFF(2) receptors has the similar anti-opioid actions on the antinociceptive effect of systemic morphine.     

Dynorphin-A (1-8) is contained within perikarya, nerve fibres and nerve terminals of rat duodenum

By the use of well-characterized antibodies against porcine dynorphin-A(1-8), an endogenous opioid peptide, and the use of a modified immunofluorescence microscopic technique, dynorphin-A(1-8) stained perikarya, nerve fibres, and nerve terminals were visualized in the rat duodenum. Dynorphin-A(1-8) immunoreactive perikarya were revealed with certainty only in the myenteric plexus, while dynorphinergic nerve fibres could bee seen in the myenteric plexus and circular muscle layer, but not in the longitudinal muscle layer and submucous plexus. Dynorphin-A(1-8) immunofluorescent nerve endings were in close contacts with submucosal blood vessels, probably arterioles, and Brunner's gland cells. These findings suggest that the opioid peptide dynorphin-A(1-8) might be synthetized within myenteric plexus perikarya of the rat duodenum and that it might modulate the peristaltic activity, intestinal blood pressure, and production of mucopeptides synthetized within Brunner's gland cells.     

中脑导水管周围灰质在侧脑室注入微量吗啡或纳洛酮所引起的镇痛或拮抗镇痛中的作用

本工作进一步探索中脑导水管周围灰质(PAG)在吗啡镇痛与纳洛酮拮抗吗啡镇痛中的作用。实验在清醒受限制的大鼠上进行,以电刺激鼠尾出现的甩尾和嘶叫为痛反应指标。结果表明:(1)侧脑室注射微量纳洛酮后,可使电刺激 PAG 或注射微量吗啡于 PAG 所引起的镇痛效应受到明显拮抗;(2)损毀 PAG 或注射微量纳洛酮于 PAG 后,可使由侧脑室注入微量吗啡所引起的镇痛效应显著减弱。由此可见 PAG 既是侧脑室注射吗啡镇痛作用的重要中枢部位,又是侧脑室注射纳洛酮拮抗吗啡镇痛的重要中枢部位。