The Journal of pharmacology and experimental therapeutics
-
J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. · Aug 2000
Functional compartmentalization of opioid desensitization in primary sensory neurons.
The cellular correlates of desensitization or tolerance are poorly understood. To address this, we studied acute and long-term mu-opioid desensitization, with respect to Ca(2+) currents, in cultured rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. Exposure of DRG neurons to the mu-agonist [D-Ala(2),N-MePhe(4), Gly-ol(5)]-enkephalin (DAMGO; 3 microM) reduced whole-cell currents approximately 35%, but with continued agonist application, 52% of the response was lost over 10 to 12 min. ⋯ Block of N-type Ca(2+) channels with omega-conotoxin GVIA revealed a component of the opioid response that did not desensitize over 10 min. We conclude that acute and long-term mu-opioid desensitization in DRG neurons occurs by different mechanisms. Acute desensitization is heterologous and functionally compartmentalized: the pathway targeting non-N-type channels is relatively resistant to the early effects of continuous agonist exposure; the pathway targeting N-type channels in a largely voltage-insensitive manner is partially desensitized; and the pathway targeting N-type channels in a largely voltage-sensitive manner is completely desensitized.
-
J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. · Aug 2000
Evaluation of selective NK(1) receptor antagonist CI-1021 in animal models of inflammatory and neuropathic pain.
CI-1021 ([(2-benzofuran)-CH(2)OCO]-(R)-alpha-MeTrp-(S)-NHCH(CH (3))Ph) is a selective and competitive neurokinin-1 (NK(1)) receptor antagonist. This study examines its activity in animal models of inflammatory and neuropathic pain. In mice, CI-1021 (1-30 mg/kg, s.c.) dose dependently blocked the development of the late phase of the formalin response with a minimum effective dose (MED) of 3 mg/kg. ⋯ CI-1021 blocked the CCI-induced hypersensitivity in the guinea pig, with a MED of 0.1 mg/kg, p.o. CI-1021 (10-100 mg/kg, s.c.) did not show sedative/ataxic action in the rat rota-rod test. It is suggested that NK(1) receptor antagonists possess a superior side effect profile to carbamazepine and morphine and may have a therapeutic use for the treatment of inflammatory and neuropathic pain.