European journal of pharmacology
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Preclinical data, performed in a limited number of pain models, suggest that functional blockade of metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) receptors may be beneficial for pain management. In the present study, effects of 2-methyl-6-(phenylethynyl)-pyridine (MPEP), a potent, selective mGlu5 receptor antagonist, were examined in a wide variety of rodent nociceptive and hypersensitivity models in order to fully characterize the potential analgesic profile of mGlu5 receptor blockade. Effects of 3-[(2-methyl-1,3-thiazol-4-yl)ethynyl]pyridine (MTEP), as potent and selective as MPEP at mGlu5/mGlu1 receptors but more selective than MPEP at N-methyl-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, were also evaluated in selected nociceptive and side effect models. ⋯ MTEP (3-30 mg/kg, i.p.) also potently reduced CFA-induced thermal hyperalgesia. However, at 100 mg/kg, i.p., MPEP and MTEP produced central nerve system (CNS) side effects as measured by rotarod performance and exploratory locomotor activity. These results suggest a role for mGlu5 receptors in multiple nociceptive modalities, though CNS side effects may be a limiting factor in developing mGlu5 receptor analgesic compounds.
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Few studies in the literature associated transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TENS) use with an antiinflammatory activity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of low (10 Hz)- and high (130 Hz)-frequency TENS on hyperalgesia and edema that occur after injection of carrageenan in rat paw. After induction of inflammation, either low- or high-frequency TENS was applied in the rat paw for 20 min, and the effect of TENS treatment on escape or paw withdrawal and edema was measured. ⋯ However, low-frequency TENS presented longer lasting effect as compared with high-frequency TENS. Naltrexone-treated animals showed a complete reversion of the analgesic effect induced by low- but not high-frequency TENS. Thus, our data demonstrated absence of an antiinflammatory effect associated to TENS use and confirmed the participation of endogenous opioids on low TENS-induced analgesia.
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We examined the effect of Vilazodone, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) and serotonin 1A (5-HT(1A)) receptor agonist [Bartoszyk, G. D., Hegenbart, R., Ziegler, H., 1997. EMD 68843, a serotonin reuptake inhibitor with selective presynaptic 5-HT1A receptor agonistic properties. ⋯ In therapeutic testing, Vilazodone increased stress elevation of startle at all doses. In contrast, therapeutic Vilazodone had no effect on stress potentiation of anxiety in the plus-maze. Taken together, the data suggest a prophylactic potential for Vilazodone in the treatment of changes in hypervigilance following severe stress.
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In the present study, the possible role of nitric oxide on the conditioned place preference (CPP) induced by nicotine in mice was investigated. Intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of nicotine (1 mg/kg) and the nitric oxide (NO) precursor, L-arginine (200 and 500 mg/kg), produced significant place preference. However, injection of mecamylamine (0.05 and 0.1 mg/kg; i.p.) or the NO synthase (NOS) inhibitor, L-Nitro-amino-methyl-ester, L-NAME (5-20 mg/kg; i.p.), had no effect. ⋯ Nicotine injection (0.25, 0.5 and 0.75 mg/kg) on the test day reduced the expression of place preference induced by L-arginine, while both mecamylamine (0.05 and 0.1 mg/kg) and L-NAME (5, 10 and 20 mg/kg) inhibited the acquisition of place preference induced by nicotine (1 mg/kg) and L-arginine (200 mg/kg). Moreover, neither of the antagonists reduced the expression of nicotine- or L-arginine-induced place preference. It is suggested that nitric oxide may play an important role in nicotine-induced place preference.
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The activation of intracerebral corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) system is involved in nitrous oxide analgesia. We evaluated the effect of general anesthetics on nitrous-oxide-induced CRF activation and antinociception. Male Sprague-Dawley rats inhaled isoflurane (0%, 0.6%, 1.0% and 1.5%) or were administered with intravenous propofol (0, 0.1 and 0.2 mg/kg/min), with or without 75% nitrous oxide inhalation, for 90 min. ⋯ In other groups of rats, the effect of propofol on nitrous oxide antinociception was evaluated with tail flick latency tests. Both inhaled isoflurane and intravenous propofol inhibited nitrous-oxide-induced activation of CRF neurons, suggesting that these general anesthetics may inhibit one of the analgesic mechanisms of nitrous oxide. Indeed, propofol inhibited the antinociceptive action of nitrous oxide, as evaluated with tail flick latencies (TFL).