Influence of ethanol and morphine on pain perception evoked by deep tissue injury

RESUMO

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of ethanol and morphine on nociceptive behavioral responses evoked by the injection of formalin into the temporomandibular joint region of rats (the TMJ formalin test). In experiment 1, animals were given an ethanol solution (6.5 por cento) or tap water to drink for 4 and 10 days, before the procedure for TMJ pain. In the group treated for 4 days, significant analgesia was observed in the TMJ formalin test, whereas the group treated for 10 days did not show this effect, revealing the development of tolerance to ethanol antinociceptive effects. In experiment 2, animals were submitted to chronic regimen of ethanol (6.5 por cento for 10 days did not show this effect, revealing the development of tolerance to ethanol antinociceptive effects...