title: Pharmacological characterization of morphine-induced in vivo release of cholecystokinin in rat dorsal horn: effects of ion channel blockers.
abstract: Previous studies indicate that an increased release of cholecystokinin (CCK) in response to morphine administration may counteract opioid-induced analgesia at the spinal level. In the present study we used in vivo microdialysis to demonstrate that systemic administration of antinociceptive doses of morphine (1-5 mg/kg, s.c.) induces a dose-dependent and naloxone-reversible release of CCK-like immunoreactivity (CCK-LI) in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. A similar response could also be observed following perfusion of the dialysis probe for 60 min with 100 microM but not with 1 microM morphine. The CCK-LI release induced by morphine (5 mg/kg, s.c.) was found to be calcium-dependent and tetrodotoxin-sensitive (1 microM in the perfusion medium). Topical application of either the L-type calcium channel blocker verapamil (50 microg) or the N-type calcium channel blocker omega-conotoxin GVIA (0.4 microg) onto the dorsal spinal cord completely prevented the CCK-LI release induced by morphine (5 mg/kg, s.c.). Our data indicate that activation of L- and N-type calcium channels is of importance for morphine-induced CCK release, even though the precise site of action of morphine in the dorsal horn remains unclear. The present findings also suggest a mechanism for the potentiation of opioid analgesia by L- and N-type calcium channel blocking agents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gustafsson
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Afrah
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Brodin
authors.forename: C O
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Stiller
mesh_terms: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000494:pharmacology; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000378:metabolism; D020746:Calcium Channels, L-Type; D002766:Cholecystokinin / Q000378:metabolism*; D007278:Injections, Spinal; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D008297:Male; D017551:Microdialysis; D009020:Morphine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009270:Naloxone / Q000494:pharmacology; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D026941:Sodium Channel Blockers; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D013779:Tetrodotoxin / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D015220:Calcium Channels; D020746:Calcium Channels, L-Type; D007473:Ion Channels; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D026941:Sodium Channel Blockers; D009270:Naloxone; D013779:Tetrodotoxin; D009020:Morphine; D002766:Cholecystokinin; D002118:Calcium