Canadian journal of physiology and pharmacology
-
Can. J. Physiol. Pharmacol. · Mar 1998
Antinociceptive and morphine modulatory actions of spinal orphanin FQ.
Orphanin FQ (nociceptin, OFQ), a hepatdecapeptide peptide, has been designated as an endogenous ligand at the orphan receptor ORL1, which lacks affinity for opioid receptor ligands. OFQ-like immunoreactivity has been localized in spinal cord areas that are involved in the processing of nociceptive signals. In this study, the effects of spinally administered OFQ on thermal and mechanical nociceptive stimuli were investigated following intrathecal (i.t.) injection in unanesthetized rats bearing chronic indwelling catheters in the subarachnoid space. ⋯ In rats that were rendered tolerant to spinal morphine, by a continuous intrathecal infusion (7.5 nmol/h) of the agonist for 5 days, the OFQ dose-response curves for its antinociceptive effect in the tail-flick and paw-pressure tests were significantly shifted to the right. In separate experiments, repeated intrathecal injection of OFQ (50 nmol) or morphine (7.5 nmol) produced a significant decline in their antinociceptive effects. Thus, intrathecally administered OFQ produces both development of tolerance to its antinociceptive actions and cross-tolerance to the action of morphine.