title: Mu and delta opioid synergy between the periaqueductal gray and the rostro-ventral medulla.
abstract: Microinjection of [D-Ala2,MePhe4,Gly(ol)5]enkephalin (DAMGO) into either the periaqueductal gray (PAG) or the rostral ventral medulla (RVM) elicits analgesia in the tailflick assay in the rat. Co-administration of DAMGO into both regions together results in a profound synergistic interaction similar to that we previously reported with morphine. U50,488H and DPDPE are inactive when given into either region. [D-Ala2,Glu4]Deltorphin (deltorphin), on the other hand, elicits an analgesic response, although the maximal response is less than than mu agonists. Co-administration of DAMGO into one region with deltorphin in the other also results in a significant synergy. However, co-administration of DAMGO and deltorphin together in the same region gives only additive effects. These results confirm the existence of mu/mu synergy between the PAG and RVM. kappa 1 and delta 1 agents are inactive, but the delta 2 agonist deltorphin is active in both regions. Our results indicate the presence of mu/delta 2 synergy between the PAG and RVM which appears to involve interactions of pathways rather than receptor interactions at the cellular level.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Queens College, City University of New York, NY.
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Pasternak
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Bodnar
mesh_terms: D019900:3,4-Dichloro-N-methyl-N-(2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-cyclohexyl)-benzeneacetamide, (trans)-Isomer; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000700:Analgesics / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D004357:Drug Synergism; D020875:Enkephalin, Ala(2)-MePhe(4)-Gly(5)-; D020881:Enkephalin, D-Penicillamine (2,5)-; D004745:Enkephalins / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008526:Medulla Oblongata / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000494:pharmacology; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010487:Periaqueductal Gray / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D011759:Pyrrolidines / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017465:Receptors, Opioid, delta / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D004745:Enkephalins; D009842:Oligopeptides; D011759:Pyrrolidines; D017465:Receptors, Opioid, delta; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu; D020875:Enkephalin, Ala(2)-MePhe(4)-Gly(5)-; C059567:deltorphin; D019900:3,4-Dichloro-N-methyl-N-(2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-cyclohexyl)-benzeneacetamide, (trans)-Isomer; D020881:Enkephalin, D-Penicillamine (2,5)-