The Journal of pharmacology and experimental therapeutics
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Nalbuphine is a mixed opioid agonist/antagonist analgesic. It labels mu receptors most potently where it acts as an antagonist. Nalbuphine is analgesic in the tail-flick assay after systemic (ED50, 41.8 mg/kg s.c.), i.c.v. (ED50, 21.3 micrograms) or intrathecal administration (ED50, 11.2 micrograms). ⋯ The presence of analgesic cross-tolerance between nalbuphine and both naloxone benzoylhydrazone and nalorphine indicated an analgesic role for kappa 3 receptors, which act supraspinally. Additional studies revealed synergistic interactions between spinal kappa 1 and supraspinal kappa 3 receptors when nalbuphine was given both intrathecally and i.c.v. In conclusion, these studies suggest that nalbuphine elicits analgesia through a complex interaction of supraspinal kappa 3 and spinal kappa 1 mechanisms.