Endomorphins (EMs) are endogenous selective mu-opioid receptor agonists. Their role in inflammatory pain has not been fully elucidated. Here we examine peripheral antinociception elicited by exogenously applied EM-1 and EM-2 and the contribution of EM-containing leukocytes to stress- and corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF)-induced antinociception. To this end, we applied behavioral (paw pressu...

In this study, the effect of α-adrenoceptor agents on imipramine-induced antinociception was investigated using formalin test. Intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of imipramine at different doses (10-80 mg/kg) induced antinociception in both phases of formalin test. In addition, intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of imipramine (1, 5, and 10 µg/rat) did not elicit any effect, although ...

Novel bioactive opioid mimetic agonists containing 2',6'-dimethyl-l-tyrosine (Dmt) and a pyrazinone ring interact with mu- and delta-opioid receptors. Compound 1 [3-(4' -Dmt-aminobutyl)-6-(3'-Dmt-aminopropyl)-5-methyl-2(1H)pyrazinone] exhibited high mu-opioid receptor affinity and selectivity (K(i)mu = 0.021 nM and K(i)delta/K(i)mu = 1,519, respectively), and agonist activity on guinea pig ileu...

We evaluated the effects of σ1-receptor inhibition on μ-opioid-induced mechanical antinociception and constipation. σ1-Knockout mice exhibited marked mechanical antinociception in response to several μ-opioid analgesics (fentanyl, oxycodone, morphine, buprenorphine, and tramadol) at systemic (subcutaneous) doses that were inactive in wild-type mice and even unmasked the antinociceptive effects ...

Activation of brain nociceptin/orphanin FQ (NOP) receptors leads to attenuation of mu-opioid receptor (MOP receptor)-mediated antinociception. Buprenorphine, a high-affinity partial MOP receptor agonist also binds to NOP receptors with 80 nM affinity. The buprenorphine-induced inverted U-shaped dose-response curve for antinociception may be due to NOP receptor activation, given that, in the pre...

We evaluated the effects of s1-receptor inhibition on m-opioid– induced mechanical antinociception and constipation. s1-Knockout mice exhibited marked mechanical antinociception in response to several m-opioid analgesics (fentanyl, oxycodone, morphine, buprenorphine, and tramadol) at systemic (subcutaneous) doses that were inactive in wild-type mice and even unmasked the antinociceptive effects...

Chronic morphine administration shifts delta-opioid receptors (DORs) from the cytoplasm to the plasma membrane. Given that microinjection of morphine into the PAG produces antinociception, it is hypothesized that the movement of DORs to the membrane will allow antinociception to the DOR agonist deltorphin II as a way to compensate for morphine tolerance. Tolerance was induced by twice daily inj...

1. The effects of four specific inhibitors of 5-hydroxytryptamine (K-HT) uptake on morphine-, methadone- or pethidine-induced antinociception was studied in rats. Antinociception was assessed by means of hot plate (55 degrees C) reaction times. The effect of the compounds on the uptake of [3H]-5-HT into rat whole brain synaptosomes was also investigated. 2. Pretreatment with Org 6582, citalopra...

In the present study the effects of both CCK receptor agonists and antago­ nists on antinociception induced by morphine in the tail-flick test have been evalu­ ated. M orphine induced dose-dependent antinoci�eption in mice. The response of morphine was potentiated by sulfated cholecystokinin-8 (CCK-8S) but not by unsulfated cholecystokinin-8 (CCK-8U). The CCK receptor antagonists MK-329 and L-3...

Sexually dimorphic nociception and opioid antinociception is very pervasive but poorly understood.We had demonstrated that spinal morphine antinociception in females, but not males, requires the concomitant activation of spinal μand κ-opioid receptors (MOR and KOR, respectively). This finding suggests an interrelationship between MOR and KOR in females that is not manifest in males. Here,we sho...