Pharmacological research : the official journal of the Italian Pharmacological Society
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Antinociception, disturbances of motor coordination and development of tolerance to these effects were examined following acute and chronic administration of ACEA-1416, a NMDA receptor/glycine site antagonist, in Swiss Webster mice using the formalin and rotarod tests. In the formalin test, mice were injected with either the vehicle (Tris, 0.05 M) or ACEA-1416 (1-10 mg kg-1). Fifteen or 60 min later, mice were injected with formalin and observed for nociceptive responses (licking and/or biting of the injected paw). ⋯ Tolerance also developed to the motor impairing effect of the drug. Taken together, these data suggest that chronic inhibition of NMDA receptors by ACEA-1416 differentially affected the antinociceptive effect of the drug in the early and late phase of the formalin test. Furthermore, the antinociceptive and motor impairing effects of the drug can be separated.