title: Norbinaltorphimine: antagonist profile at kappa opioid receptors.
abstract: The pharmacological profile of the opioid antagonist norbinaltorphimine has been characterised in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, norbinaltorphimine reversibly antagonised the effects of kappa agonists with pA2 values of 10.2-10.4. Norbinaltorphimine was much less potent as an antagonist at mu and delta receptors, pA2 values were 7.4-7.6 and 7.6-7.8, respectively. In all cases Schild slopes were unity. In vivo, norbinaltorphimine was an effective antagonist only at high dose levels and was not very selective between mu and kappa. The results indicate that in vitro norbinaltorphimine is a potent selective kappa antagonist; however, this antagonist profile is not maintained in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuropharmacology, Glaxo Group Research Ltd., Ware, Hertfordshire, U.K.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Birch
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Hayes
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Sheehan
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Tyers
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006224:Cricetinae; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007082:Ileum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009271:Naltrexone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D009619:Nociceptors / Q000187:drug effects; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D011957:Receptors, Opioid / Q000187:drug effects*; D017473:Receptors, Opioid, kappa; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu; D014649:Vas Deferens / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D011957:Receptors, Opioid; D017473:Receptors, Opioid, kappa; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu; C051844:norbinaltorphimine; D009271:Naltrexone