The analgesic activity of paracetamol is prevented by the blockade of cannabinoid CB1 receptors.
The mechanism of the analgesic activity of paracetamol (acetaminophen), one of the most widely used drugs for the treatment of pain, is still not clear. Here we show that in rats, using the hot plate test, the analgesic effect of paracetamol is prevented by two antagonists at cannabinoid CB1 receptors (AM281 and SR141716A) at doses that prevent the analgesic activity of the cannabinoid CB1 agonist HU210. Our present results suggest that paracetamol-induced antinociception involves the cannabinoid system.
Ottani
Alessandra
A
Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via G. Campi 287, 41100 Modena, Italy.
Leone
Sheila
S
Sandrini
Maurizio
M
Ferrari
Anna
A
Bertolini
Alfio
A
D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D009025:Morpholines / Q000494:pharmacology; D009619:Nociceptors / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000187:drug effects; D010880:Piperidines / Q000494:pharmacology; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D043884:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1 / Q000819:agonists / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology*; D000077285:Rimonabant
D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D009025:Morpholines; D010880:Piperidines; D011720:Pyrazoles; D043884:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1; D000082:Acetaminophen; D013759:Dronabinol; C062018:HU 211; D000077285:Rimonabant; C109925:AM 281