Microinjection of morphine into thalamic nucleus submedius depresses bee venom-induced inflammatory pain in the rat.
Previous studies have provided evidence of the existence of a pain modulatory feedback pathway consisting of thalamic nucleus submedius (Sm)-ventrolateral orbital cortex-periaqueductal grey pathway, which is activated during acute pain and leads to depression of transmission of nociceptive information in the spinal dorsal horn. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that morphine microinjection into the Sm decreased spontaneous pain and bilateral thermal hyperalgesia, as well as ipsilateral mechanical allodynia, induced by subcutaneous injections of bee venom into the rat hind paw. Morphine (1.0, 2.5 or 5.0 microg in 0.5 microL) injected into the Sm, contralateral to the bee venom-injected paw, depressed spontaneous nociceptive behaviour in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, morphine significantly decreased bilateral thermal hyperalgesia and ipsilateral mechanical allodynia 2 h after bee venom injection. These morphine-induced effects were antagonized by 1.0 microg naloxone (an opioid antagonist) microinjected into the Sm 5 min before morphine administration. The results provided further support for the important role of the Sm and Sm-opioid receptors in inhibiting nociceptive behaviour and indicated for the first time that Sm opioid receptors were also effective in inhibiting the hypersensitivity provoked by bee venom-induced inflammation.
Feng
Jie
J
Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases, Ministry of Education, Xi'an Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China.
Jia
Ning
N
Han
Ling-Na
LN
Huang
Fen-Sheng
FS
Xie
Yu-Feng
YF
Liu
Jian
J
Tang
Jing-Shi
JS
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D001514:Bee Venoms; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006614:Hindlimb; D006930:Hyperalgesia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D007249:Inflammation / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008297:Male; D008845:Microinjections; D009020:Morphine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009270:Naloxone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D009619:Nociceptors / Q000187:drug effects; D010146:Pain / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects; D013787:Thalamic Nuclei / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013997:Time Factors
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D001514:Bee Venoms; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D009270:Naloxone; D009020:Morphine