The Journal of pharmacology and experimental therapeutics
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J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. · Feb 1993
Activation of kappa opioid receptors by U50488H and morphine enhances the release of substance P from rat trigeminal nucleus slices.
The modulation of the release of substance P (SP) from sensory primary afferents by activation of kappa opioid receptors is not only equivocal, but also contradictory. Thus, in the present study, we have determined the effect of nanomolar concentrations of the highly selective kappa opioid receptor agonist trans-(+)-3,4-dichloro-N-methyl-N-[2-91- (pyrrolidinyl)cyclohexyl]benzacetamide methane sulphonate (U50488H), as well as micromolar concentrations of moderately mu-selective agonist morphine, on K(+)-evoked SP release from rat trigeminal nucleus caudalis slices. U50488H (10-30 nM) and morphine (10-30 microM) increased K(+)-evoked SP release without stimulating basal SP release. ⋯ Enhancement of K(+)-evoked SP release induced by 30 nM U50488H and 30 microM morphine was blocked by the opioid receptor antagonists naloxone (30 nM; nontype selective) and norbinaltorphimine (3 nM; kappa selective), but not by N,N diallyl Tyr-Aib-Aib-Phe-Leu (0.3 microM; delta selective), naloxonazine (1 nM; mu 1 selective) or beta-funaltrexamine (20 nM; mu selective). These findings indicate that activation of at least one population of kappa opioid receptors increases the release of SP from trigeminal nucleus caudalis. Excitatory presynaptic kappa opioid receptors on SP-containing primary afferents may be involved in the hyperalgesia of inflammatory processes, the "anti-analgesic" effect of dynorphin and the paradoxical "analgesia" produced by low doses of naloxone.
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J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. · Nov 1992
General anesthetics potentiate gamma-aminobutyric acid actions on gamma-aminobutyric acidA receptors expressed by Xenopus oocytes: lack of involvement of intracellular calcium.
Potentiation of the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABAA) receptor-gated Cl- channel response has been suggested to be a primary action of some anesthetic agents. We asked whether the GABAA receptor is a target site common for general anesthetics that are chemically and structurally diverse. This hypothesis was tested in Xenopus oocytes expressing mouse cortical mRNA, and GABA-activated Cl- currents were measured using two-electrode voltage clamping. ⋯ We found that intracellular injection of the Ca++ chelator, EGTA, did not change the enhancement by anesthetics. In addition, these anesthetics alone did not produce significant currents, suggesting that the Ca(++)-dependent Cl- current was not activated by these anesthetics per se. Thus, we found that diverse anesthetics potentiate GABA-induced Cl- currents, but this action is not mediated by a release of intracellular Ca++.
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J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. · Oct 1992
Antinociceptive actions of spinal nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents on the formalin test in the rat.
Subcutaneous injection of formalin into the dorsal surface of the hindpaw evoked a two-phased flinching (phase 1:0-9 min; phase 2: 10-60 min) of the injected paw. Intrathecal administration of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) produced minimal effects upon phase 1, but showed a significant, though submaximal, dose-dependent suppression of the phase 2 response. Ordering of i.t. potency was (ID50 in nmol): indomethacin (1.9) > or = flurbiprofen (2.1) > ketorolac (5.2) > or = zomepirac (5.9) > S(+)ibuprofen (16) > or = ibuprofen(racemic) (19) > acetylsalicylic acid (27) > acetaminophen (250) > R(-)ibuprofen (> 270) = 0. ⋯ Pretreatment at longer intervals indicated that the duration of the antinociceptive effect was between 3 to 6 hr after the i.t. injection. The i.t. injection of the highest doses of the several NSAID were without significant effect upon the 52.5 degrees C hot plate test. These studies indicate that NSAID have a powerful effect upon spinal nociceptive processing evoked by the s.c. injection of formalin.
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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.
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J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. · Aug 1992
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialSubjective and behavioral effects of diphenhydramine, lorazepam and methocarbamol: evaluation of abuse liability.
The effects of orally administered placebo, diphenhydramine, lorazepam, methocarbamol and placebo were studied in volunteers with histories of recreational substance abuse including sedative/hypnotics. Placebo, diphenhydramine (100, 200 and 400 mg), lorazepam (1 and 4 mg) and methocarbamol (2.25 and 9 g) were tested in a randomized, double-blind crossover study using 14 subjects. Psychomotor and cognitive performance and subject- and observer-rated responses were measured daily before and for 5.5 hr after drug administration. ⋯ The present study clearly differentiated the behavioral and subjective profiles of diphenhydramine, lorazepam and methocarbamol. Consistent with its recognized low abuse liability, diphenhydramine produced fewer increases in measures of positive mood and more adverse effects. The considerable overlap in subjective effect measures of positive mood make further differentiation with respect to abuse liability difficult.