European journal of pharmacology
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We have examined the spinal analgesic activity of opioid agonists and antagonists in a model of short term, unilateral, carrageenan-induced inflammation/hyperalgesia. Rats received a single s.c. injection of carrageenan (2-6 mg in saline) 3-24 h prior to testing hindpaw withdrawal latencies to noxious thermal stimuli. Dose-response curves for intrathecally administered agonists with mu- and/or delta-opioid activity were shifted to the left for inflamed hindpaws when compared to contralateral non-inflamed paws. ⋯ The effect of clonidine was only blocked by idazoxan. Antagonists alone had no significant effect on withdrawal latencies. The data indicate that the analgesic action of opioids during conditions of inflammation may depend on an interaction with spinal noradrenergic pathways.