title: Antinociceptive action against colonic distension by brain orexin in conscious rats.
abstract: Increasing evidence has suggested that brain orexins are implicated in a wide variety of physiological functions. With regard to gastrointestinal functions, orexin-A acts centrally to regulate gastrointestinal functions such as gastric and pancreatic secretion, and gastrointestinal motility. Visceral sensation is also known as one of key gastrointestinal functions which are controlled by the central nervous system. Little is, however, known about a role of central orexin in visceral sensation. This study was therefore performed to clarify whether brain orexin may be involved in the process of visceral sensation. Visceral sensation was evaluated by colonic distension-induced abdominal withdrawal reflex (AWR) in conscious rats. Intracisternally administered orexin-A dose-dependently increased the threshold volume of colonic distension-induced AWR. In contrast, neither intraperitoneal injection of orexin-A nor intracisternal orexin-B altered the threshold volume. While intracisternal SB334867, an orexin 1 receptor antagonist, by itself failed to change the threshold volume, SB334867 injected centrally completely blocked the morphine-induced antinociceptive action against colonic distension. These results suggest for the first time that orexin-A specifically acts centrally in the brain to enhance antinociceptive response to colonic distension. We would furthermore suggest that endogenous orexin-A indeed mediates the antinociceptive effect of morphine on visceral sensation through the orexin 1 receptors. All these evidence might indicate that brain orexin plays a role in the pathophysiology of functional gastrointestinal disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome because visceral hypersensitivity of the gut is considered to play a vital role in the diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Medicine, Asahikawa Medical University, Midorigaoka Higashi 2-1-1-1, Asahikawa , 078-8510, Japan. Electronic address: okumurat@asahikawa-med.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Toshikatsu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Okumura
authors.affiliation: Department of Regional Medicine and Education, Asahikawa Medical University, Midorigaoka Higashi 2-1-1-1, Asahikawa , 078-8510, Japan.
authors.forename: Tsukasa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nozu
authors.affiliation: Department of General Medicine, Asahikawa Medical University, Midorigaoka Higashi 2-1-1-1, Asahikawa , 078-8510, Japan.
authors.forename: Shima
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumei
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Brain Function and Medical Engineering, Asahikawa Medical University, Midorigaoka Higashi 2-1-1-1, Asahikawa, 078-8510, Japan.
authors.forename: Kaoru
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takakusaki
authors.affiliation: Department of General Medicine, Asahikawa Medical University, Midorigaoka Higashi 2-1-1-1, Asahikawa , 078-8510, Japan.
authors.forename: Saori
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miyagishi
authors.affiliation: Department of General Medicine, Asahikawa Medical University, Midorigaoka Higashi 2-1-1-1, Asahikawa , 078-8510, Japan.
authors.forename: Masumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ohhira
mesh_terms: D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000818:Animals; D001583:Benzoxazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003106:Colon / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D009020:Morphine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009287:Naphthyridines; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000068796:Orexin Receptor Antagonists; D064446:Orexin Receptors / Q000378:metabolism; D000068797:Orexins; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000187:drug effects; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014508:Urea / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D059265:Visceral Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: C420062:1-(2-methylbenzoxazol-6-yl)-3-(1,5)naphthyridin-4-yl urea; D000700:Analgesics; D001583:Benzoxazoles; C578627:Hcrtr1 protein, rat; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D009287:Naphthyridines; D009479:Neuropeptides; D000068796:Orexin Receptor Antagonists; D064446:Orexin Receptors; D000068797:Orexins; D009020:Morphine; D014508:Urea
keywords: Antinociceptive action; Colonic distension; Orexin; Visceral sensation