title: Buprenorphine potentiates L-DOPA-induced contralateral rotation in 6-hydroxydopamine-treated rats.
abstract: Animals are commonly given opioid analgetics such as buprenorphine for post-operative pain management. In this study, the effect of the analgetic buprenorphine, a partial mu receptor agonist and kappa receptor antagonist, on L-DOPA-induced contralateral rotation was measured in 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) treated rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats received dopamine-depleting brain lesions by infusion of 6-OHDA into the medial forebrain bundle. After the procedure, buprenorphine was administered (430 microg/kg, s.c.) to 17 of 54 animals. Three weeks after 6-OHDA treatment, animals were given benserazide HCI (25 mg/kg, i.p.) and L-DOPA (4 mg/kg, i.p.). Contralateral rotations were monitored for 2 h. Animals receiving buprenorphine had significantly higher rates of rotation as compared with non-buprenorphine-treated animals (P = 0.023). The results suggest that buprenorphine sensitizes animals to the effects of L-DOPA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City 84112, USA. amy.adams@m.cc.utah.edu
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Keefe
mesh_terms: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D001545:Benserazide / Q000494:pharmacology; D002047:Buprenorphine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004357:Drug Synergism; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D007980:Levodopa / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D016627:Oxidopamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011957:Receptors, Opioid / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D011957:Receptors, Opioid; D002047:Buprenorphine; D007980:Levodopa; D001545:Benserazide; D016627:Oxidopamine