We evaluated the modulation by Na+,K+-ATPase inhibitors of morphine-induced antinociception in the tail-flick test and [3H]naloxone binding to forebrain membranes. The antinociception induced by morphine (1-32 mg/kg, s.c.) in mice was dose-dependently antagonized by ouabain (1-10 ng/mouse, i.c.v.), which produced a significant shift to the right of the morphine dose-response curve. The i.c.v. a...

The neuropeptide galanin (Gal) and its receptors (GalR1, GalR2, and GalR3) are expressed in spinal cord. We have characterized the pharmacology of the antinociceptive effects of intrathecally (i.t.) administered galanin and its analogs in the formalin test in rats, using an automated flinch detection system. Intrathecal injection of rat galanin (Gal(1-29)) or human galanin (Gal(1-30)) produced ...

Opioid analgesics are used extensively in the management of pain. Although the clinically effective opioids bind with high affinity to the mu-opioid receptor, studies have suggested that the delta-opioid agonists might represent more ideal analgesic agents, with fewer side effects. A limitation to opiate effectiveness is the development of tolerance, an event that has been linked to opioid rece...

The characteristics of specific binding of the ATP-sensitive K(+) (K(ATP)) channel blocker [3H]glibenclamide to forebrain membranes (P(2) fraction, 4 degrees C) obtained from morphine-naive and -tolerant mice were evaluated. Morphine tolerance was induced by osmotic minipumps that released 45 mg/kg/day of morphine subcutaneously for 6 days. This treatment enhanced the antinociceptive ED(50) of ...

Opioid receptor agonists are effective for treating pain; however, tolerance and dependence can develop with repeated use. Combining opioids with cannabinoids can enhance their analgesic potency, although it is less clear whether combined treatment alters opioid tolerance and dependence. In this study, four monkeys received 3.2 mg/kg morphine alone or in combination with 1 mg/kg Δ(9)-tetrahydro...

PURPOSE The unique properties of remifentanil make it ideal for pediatric use despite a lack of wide randomized clinical trials and fear of adverse events due to its high potency. We aimed to consolidate preliminary conclusions regarding the efficacy of remifentanil use in pediatric scoliosis surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS The medical charts of children with idiopathic scoliosis who underwent...

In the present study, the contribution of pertussis toxin (PTX)-sensitive G(i/o)-proteins to opioid tolerance and mu-opioid receptor down-regulation in the mouse were examined. Mice were injected once intracerebroventricularly and intrathecally with PTX (0.1 microg/site). Controls were treated with saline. On the 10th day following PTX treatment, continuous subcutaneous infusion of etorphine (1...

BACKGROUND Classically, the first plane of anesthesia is known as the stage of analgesia. Nonetheless, clinical evidence suggests that low doses of inhaled agents might enhance pain perception. The present experiments test the hypothesis that low concentrations of halothane increase response to a noxious thermal stimulus and attenuate the antinociceptive effect of intraventricular morphine via ...

The study describes a model of chronic intestinal inflammation in mice. Inflammation was induced by the administration of one dose of croton oil (CO) (acute CO) or two doses (chronic CO) of intragastric CO, whereas controls received saline (SS); GI transit was measured with charcoal. Chronic CO induced intestinal inflammation substantiated by optical microscopy, weight loss (20%) and a 25% incr...

The discriminative stimulus effects of acute morphine followed by naltrexone have been described previously in nonhuman primates. The purposes of this study were to 1) extend the pharmacological characterization of the discrimination by testing mu-opioid agonists other than morphine and opioid-like compounds other than naltrexone and 2) to examine further the relationship between agonist pretre...