title: Endothelin ETA receptor antagonist reverses naloxone-precipitated opioid withdrawal in mice.
abstract: Long-term use of opioids for pain management results in rapid development of tolerance and dependence leading to severe withdrawal symptoms. We have previously demonstrated that endothelin-A (ETA) receptor antagonists potentiate opioid analgesia and eliminate analgesic tolerance. This study was designed to investigate the involvement of central ET mechanisms in opioid withdrawal. The effect of intracerebroventricular administration of ETA receptor antagonist BQ123 on morphine and oxycodone withdrawal was determined in male Swiss Webster mice. Opioid tolerance was induced and withdrawal was precipitated by the opioid antagonist naloxone. Expression of ETA and ETB receptors, nerve growth factor (NGF), and vascular endothelial growth factor was determined in the brain using Western blotting. BQ123 pretreatment reversed hypothermia and weight loss during withdrawal. BQ123 also reduced wet shakes, rearing behavior, and jumping behavior. No changes in expression of vascular endothelial growth factor, ETA receptors, and ETB receptors were observed during withdrawal. NGF expression was unaffected in morphine withdrawal but significantly decreased during oxycodone withdrawal. A decrease in NGF expression in oxycodone- but not in morphine-treated mice could be due to mechanistic differences in oxycodone and morphine. It is concluded that ETA receptor antagonists attenuate opioid-induced withdrawal symptoms.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chicago College of Pharmacy, Midwestern University, 555 31st Street, Downers Grove, IL 60515, USA.
authors.forename: Shaifali
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bhalla
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chicago College of Pharmacy, Midwestern University, 555 31st Street, Downers Grove, IL 60515, USA.
authors.forename: Gwendolyn
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pais
authors.affiliation: b Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Midwestern University, 555 31st Street, Downers Grove, IL 60515, USA.
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tapia
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chicago College of Pharmacy, Midwestern University, 555 31st Street, Downers Grove, IL 60515, USA.
authors.forename: Anil
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gulati
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D065130:Endothelin A Receptor Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009270:Naloxone / Q000633:toxicity*; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000633:toxicity; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000187:drug effects / Q000379:methods; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D065130:Endothelin A Receptor Antagonists; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; D009270:Naloxone; C072247:cyclo(Trp-Asp-Pro-Val-Leu)
keywords: antagoniste du récepteur de l’endothéline A BQ123; endothelin-A receptor antagonist BQ123; facteur de croissance neuronal (NGF); facteur de croissance vasculaire endothélial (VEGF); morphine; nerve growth factor (NGF); oxycodone; sevrage; vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF); withdrawal