title: Differential effects of dextrorphan and levorphanol on the excitation of rat spinal neurons by amino acids.
abstract: The effects of the stereoisomers dextrorphan and levorphanol on the excitation of spinal neurons by electrophoretically administered excitatory amino acids were studied in pentobarbitone-anaesthetised rats. Both isomers reduced responses to N-methyl-DL-aspartate (NMA), dextrorphan being both more selective and more potent than levorphanol in this respect. This observation supports the proposal that the NMA-blocking activity of a variety of drugs with psychotomimetic properties is subserved by actions at phencyclidine (PCP)/sigma opiate receptors.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Church
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lodge
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Berry
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D003917:Dextrorphan / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007649:Ketamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D007981:Levorphanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009019:Morphinans / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016202:N-Methylaspartate; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects*; D010622:Phencyclidine / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011957:Receptors, Opioid / Q000187:drug effects; D017480:Receptors, sigma; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D009019:Morphinans; D011957:Receptors, Opioid; D017480:Receptors, sigma; D003917:Dextrorphan; D007981:Levorphanol; D001224:Aspartic Acid; D016202:N-Methylaspartate; D007649:Ketamine; D010622:Phencyclidine; D000109:Acetylcholine