title: Effects of pethidine, acetylsalicylic acid, and indomethacin on pain and behavior in the mole-rat.
abstract: The antinociceptive and behavioral effects of pethidine (10, 20, or 30 mg/kg), acetylsalicylic acid (200, 400, or 600 mg/kg) and indomethacin (20, 40, or 50 mg/kg) in the naked mole-rat was studied in the hot-plate test. Instead of inducing analgesia, pethidine caused a dose-dependent reduction in response latency. Sensorimotor impairment and aggressive behavior were also observed following administration of pethidine (20 or 30 mg/kg). All animals receiving pethidine (30 mg/kg) died following fighting when kept in colony cages. Aggressive behavior and death was prevented by naloxone or by keeping animals in single cages. Acetylsalicylic acid (600 mg/kg) and indomethacin (40 or 50 mg/kg) caused a significant increase in response latency. It is concluded that in the mole-rat pethidine elicits aggression, sensorimotor impairment, and apparent hyperalgesia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Physiology, University of Nairobi, Kenya.
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Towett
authors.forename: T I
authors.initials: TI
authors.lastname: Kanui
mesh_terms: D000374:Aggression / Q000187:drug effects; D000700:Analgesics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001241:Aspirin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008614:Meperidine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009270:Naloxone / Q000494:pharmacology; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000187:drug effects; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects; D012377:Rodentia
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D009270:Naloxone; D008614:Meperidine; D001241:Aspirin; D007213:Indomethacin