Paradoxical analgesia produced by naloxone in diabetic mice is attributable to supersensitivity of delta-opioid receptors.
The effects of naloxone on the analgesic response were examined using the tail-flick test, in mice with streptozotocin-induced diabetes. Subcutaneous injection of naloxone (5 mg/kg, s.c.) produced a marked analgesia in diabetic mice but not in age-matched non-diabetic mice. Naloxone-induced analgesia in diabetic mice was significantly reduced by pretreatment with naltrindole (0.1 mg/kg, s.c.), a selective antagonist of delta-opioid receptors. By contrast, no significant naloxone-induced increase in tail-flick latency in diabetic mice was observed after chronic treatment with naloxone (5 mg/kg, s.c.) for 5 days. However, the tail-flick latency was significantly increased by chronic treatment with naloxone in non-diabetic mice. Furthermore, the significant naloxone-induced increase in tail-flick latency in non-diabetic mice that had been chronically treated with naloxone was also antagonized by pretreatment with naltrindole. Chronic pretreatment with 5 mg/kg of naloxone for 5 days markedly attenuated the analgesic effect of the delta-agonist DPDPE in diabetic mice, whereas this pretreatment significantly enhanced the effect of DPDPE in non-diabetic mice. These results suggest that naloxone-induced 'paradoxical' analgesia in mice may be mediated predominantly by delta-opioid receptors.
Kamei
J
J
Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hoshi University, Tokyo, Japan.
Kawashima
N
N
Kasuya
Y
Y
D019900:3,4-Dichloro-N-methyl-N-(2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-cyclohexyl)-benzeneacetamide, (trans)-Isomer; D000698:Analgesia; D000818:Animals; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000503:physiopathology*; D020875:Enkephalin, Ala(2)-MePhe(4)-Gly(5)-; D020881:Enkephalin, D-Penicillamine (2,5)-; D004745:Enkephalins; D006358:Hot Temperature; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D009270:Naloxone; D010146:Pain; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011759:Pyrrolidines; D011930:Reaction Time; D013997:Time Factors
D004745:Enkephalins; D011759:Pyrrolidines; D020875:Enkephalin, Ala(2)-MePhe(4)-Gly(5)-; D009270:Naloxone; D019900:3,4-Dichloro-N-methyl-N-(2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-cyclohexyl)-benzeneacetamide, (trans)-Isomer; D020881:Enkephalin, D-Penicillamine (2,5)-