Modulation of imidazoline I2 binding sites by CR4056 relieves postoperative hyperalgesia in male and female rats.
OBJECTIVE
CR4056 is a novel imidazoline-2 (I2 ) ligand exhibiting potent analgesic activity in animal models of pain. In this study, we investigated the effects of CR4056 in a well-established model of postoperative pain where rats develop hyperalgesia in the injured hind paw.


METHODS
By measuring paw withdrawal threshold to mechanical pressure, we studied the pharmacology of CR4056, potential sex differences in pain perception and response to treatment, and the pharmacodynamic interaction of CR4056 with morphine.


RESULTS
Oral CR4056 and subcutaneous morphine dose-dependently reversed the hyperalgesic response. Analgesic effects of CR4056 were completely suppressed by the non-selective imidazoline I2 /α2 -adrenoceptor antagonist idazoxan, were partially reduced (~30%; P < 0.05) by the selective α2 -adrenoceptor antagonist yohimbine, but were not influenced by the non-selective I1 /α2 -adrenoceptor antagonist efaroxan or by the μ opioid receptor antagonist naloxone. We found no differences in responses to CR4056 or morphine between male and female rats. However, females had a lower pain threshold than males, and needed lower doses of drugs to reach a significant analgesia. When CR4056 and morphine were combined, their median effective doses were lower than expected for additive effects, both in males and in females. Isobolographic analysis confirmed a synergism between CR4056 and morphine.


CONCLUSIONS
CR4056 is a novel pharmacological agent under development for postoperative pain both as stand-alone treatment and in association with morphine. CR4056 has successfully completed Phase I studies for tolerability and pharmacokinetics in healthy volunteers, and is currently entering the first proof-of-concept study in patients.
Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Rottapharm Biotech S.r.l., Monza, MB, Italy.
Marco
M
Lanza
Flora
F
Ferrari
Ilaria
I
Menghetti
Dario
D
Tremolada
Gianfranco
G
Caselli
D058669:Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000700:Analgesics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D001572:Benzofurans / Q000494:pharmacology; D001665:Binding Sites; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005260:Female; D006930:Hyperalgesia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019329:Idazoxan / Q000494:pharmacology; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D054755:Imidazoline Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D008297:Male; D009020:Morphine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009270:Naloxone / Q000494:pharmacology; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015016:Yohimbine / Q000494:pharmacology
D058669:Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Antagonists; D000700:Analgesics; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D001572:Benzofurans; C000596974:CR4056; D007093:Imidazoles; D054755:Imidazoline Receptors; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D011799:Quinazolines; C487767:imidazoline receptor 2; D015016:Yohimbine; D009270:Naloxone; D009020:Morphine; C062597:efaroxan; D019329:Idazoxan
CR4056; drug synergism; imidazoline-2 receptors; postoperative pain; sex differences