title: Antihyperalgesic effect of buprenorphine involves nociceptin/orphanin FQ peptide-receptor activation in rats with spinal nerve injury-induced neuropathy.
abstract: We evaluated the effect of buprenorphine, a mixed agonist for μ-opioid receptors and nociceptin/orphanin FQ peptide (NOP) receptors, in neuropathic rats, using the paw pressure test. Buprenorphine, administered i.p. at 50, but not 20, μg/kg, exhibited naloxone-reversible analgesic activity in naïve rats. In contrast, buprenorphine at 0.5 - 20 μg/kg produced a naloxonesensitive antihyperalgesic effect in the L5 spinal nerve-injured neuropathic rats. Intrathecal injection of [N-Phe(1)]nociceptin(1-13)NH2, a NOP-receptor antagonist, reversed the effect of buprenorphine in neuropathic rats, but not in naïve rats. Together, buprenorphine suppresses neuropathic hyperalgesia by activating NOP and opioid receptors, suggesting its therapeutic usefulness in treatment of neuropathic pain.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pharmacology & Pathophysiology, Kinki University School of Pharmacy, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomoko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Kazumasa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Okubo
authors.forename: Shota
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kojima
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nishikawa
authors.forename: Motohide
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takemura
authors.forename: Maho
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tsubota-Matsunami
authors.forename: Fumiko
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sekiguchi
authors.forename: Atsufumi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kawabata
mesh_terms: D000700:Analgesics / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D002047:Buprenorphine / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011957:Receptors, Opioid / Q000819:agonists / Q000502:physiology*; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu / Q000819:agonists / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology*; D013127:Spinal Nerves / Q000293:injuries; D000094942:Nociceptin Receptor
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D002047:Buprenorphine; D011957:Receptors, Opioid; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu; D000094942:Nociceptin Receptor; C000722285:Oprl1 protein, rat