Cardiac excitation-contraction coupling in the portal hypertensive rat.

Basal contractility and responses to beta-adrenoceptor activation are compromised in hearts from rats with chronic portal vein stenosis. Here we report the effect of partial ligation of the portal vein on myocardial G protein expression, beta-adrenoceptor-G protein coupling, and excitation-contraction coupling (ECC). Contractility (dT/dt) was reduced 30-50% in right and left ventricles, but the rate of relaxation (-dT/dt) was unaffected. Isoproterenol-induced positive inotropism was diminished, but there was no difference in ED(50). The concentration-dependent increase in -dT/dt was unaffected. G(s)alpha and G(i)alpha expression, cholera toxin- and pertussis toxin-induced ADP-ribosylation, and formation of the agonist-receptor-G(s) complex were unaffected by portal vein stenosis. Of the components of ECC examined, the caffeine-sensitive sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+) pool was reduced 35%, although the Ca(2+) uptake and release processes were unchanged; the apparent density of L-type Ca(2+) channels decreased 60% with no change in affinity; the dihydropyridine Ca(2+) channel agonist BAY K 8644 produced relative changes in dT/dt that were similar in both groups, suggesting normal function in the remaining Ca(2+) channels; and Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchange was reduced 50% in the portal vein stenosis group. These data suggest that the effect of portal vein stenosis on the myocardium is the result of alterations to ECC.

Canine cardiac muscarinic receptors, G proteins, and adenylate cyclase after long-term morphine.

Short-term morphine stimulates vagal bradycardia. This led us to propose the hypothesis that chronically administered morphine would down-regulate myocardial muscarinic receptor systems. Dogs received morphine continuously for 2 weeks through an s.c. catheter, and cellular aspects of parasympathetic control of the heart were examined. Contrary to expectations, morphine increased muscarinic receptor density in the right atrium and left ventricle by 17 and 34%, respectively, with no change in the apparent affinity of the receptor (K(D)). Morphine also increased the expression of the G protein G(ialpha) by 115 and 233%, respectively, in right atrial and left ventricular sarcolemmal membranes. Morphine increased ventricular and atrial G(salpha) to a much lesser degree (49 and 25%). Morphine failed to alter basal or maximally stimulated (forskolin plus MnCl(2)) adenylate cyclase activity. The maximum cyclase activation by isoproterenol and the maximum inhibition by carbachol were similarly unaltered by morphine. Morphine reduced the ventricular but not atrial norepinephrine. Both long- and short-term morphine lowered tissue epinephrine content, suggesting that short-term morphine reduces extraneuronal uptake. Potential systemic and cellular models for myocardial adaptation to morphine are proposed, including sequential sympathetic and parasympathetic compensations.

Alteration of spinal protein kinase C expression and kinetics in morphine, but not clonidine, tolerance.

Antinociceptive synergism between spinally administered morphine and clonidine decreases to an additive interaction in morphine- and clonidine-tolerant mice. Spinally administered protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors also decrease the synergism to addition. To determine whether chronic morphine or clonidine treatment alters spinal PKC activity, the present studies measured PKC activity and expression of PKC isoform proteins in spinal cord cytosol and membrane fractions. Mice were treated for 4 days with either placebo pellets, morphine pellets, s.c. saline, or s.c. clonidine. Morphine pellet-implanted mice were tolerant to morphine-induced tail flick antinociception, but not cross-tolerant to clonidine. Clonidine-pretreated mice were tolerant to clonidine, but not cross-tolerant to morphine. Induction of morphine tolerance produced a 2-fold lower Km value for PKC (8.24 +/- 1.67 microM in placebo pellet vs 4.43 +/- 1.24 microM in morphine pellet) in cytosol, but not membrane fractions from spinal cord. Vmax values were not different. No difference in Km or Vmax values was found between proteins from saline- and clonidine-pretreated animals. Immunoreactive cPKCalpha, betaI, and gamma isoforms decreased 14, 26, and 17%, respectively, in cytosol from morphine-tolerant animals. No difference in PKC isoforms was found in the membranes or in fractions from clonidine-tolerant mice. Morphine tolerance, but not clonidine tolerance, enhanced PKC activity while decreasing protein expression.

Silo gas exposure in New York state following the dry growing season of 1995.

Exposure to silo gas is a recognized agricultural hazard. Silo gas produced from corn fermentation may consist of oxides of nitrogen and carbon dioxide. The presence of potentially lethal concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) within vertical silos has been well documented. The risk of silo gas exposure from other silage storage methodologies--including horizontal "ag-bags" and concrete bunkers--has been less well characterized. A dry growing season is known to be a factor for elevating nitrate levels in corn plants and can result in increased NO2 production. Farms in the northeastern United States faced drought conditions during the 1995 growing season. The New York State (NYS) Department of Health (DOH) and the New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health (NYCAMH) investigated four exposure incidents involving six farmworkers during September/October 1995. Four of these workers were hospitalized for multiple days, with two workers receiving treatment in intensive care units. The remaining two workers were treated in hospital emergency departments; one refused admission and left against medical advice. We monitored NO2 levels from "ag-bags" at several New York farms. For four days, outdoor concentrations of NO2 at one site remained in excess of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health's (NIOSH) immediately dangerous to life and health value (IDLH) of 20 ppm. As a result of the clinical and industrial hygiene data, and the growing season's abnormal weather conditions, DOH and NYCAMH issued statewide health hazard alerts and conducted educational activities to warn farmers and their families. The findings of this study reinforce the potential hazards associated with silo gas exposure and identify the use of ag-bags as a relatively new avenue for significant worker exposure.

Spinal morphine/clonidine antinociceptive synergism is regulated by protein kinase C, but not protein kinase A activity.

When coadministered spinally, morphine and clonidine interact synergistically to produce antinociception. The mechanism for the synergism is unknown, but may depend on intracellular messenger systems. Agents that alter the activities of protein kinases alter antinociception produced by opioids, but their effects on clonidine-induced antinociception or the morphine/clonidine interaction are not known. In these studies, mice were pretreated intrathecally with inhibitors or activators of protein kinase C and cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase A). Antinociceptive responses to intrathecally administered morphine, clonidine and morphine/clonidine combinations were then measured in the radiant heat tail flick test. Inhibition of protein kinase C activity with chelerythrine or calphostin C changed the morphine/clonidine interaction from synergistic to additive. Inhibition of protein kinase A activity with H-89 did not alter the morphine/clonidine interaction, it remained synergistic. Stimulation of protein kinase C activity with phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate attenuated morphine antinociception, but did not alter the synergistic interaction. Increasing spinal cyclic AMP concentrations with either forskolin or rolipram attenuated the antinociception produced by separately administered morphine and clonidine, but had no effect on the morphine/clonidine interaction. These results suggest that protein kinase C activity may regulate the interaction between spinal opioid and alpha-2 receptors, stimulated by morphine and clonidine.

Omega-agatoxin IVA blocks spinal morphine/clonidine antinociceptive synergism.

Involvement of P-type voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels in spinal morphine- or clonidine-induced antinociception and in the synergistic interaction between morphine and clonidine was examined in the present studies. Coadministration of the selective P-type antagonist, omega-agatoxin IVA (25 ng) intrathecally (i.t.) to mice along with morphine or clonidine enhanced the tail flick antinociception of each agonist 5-6-fold. The greater-than-additive (synergistic) interaction that occurred when morphine and clonidine were coadministered i.t. decreased to an additive interaction in the presence of omega-agatoxin IVA. In mice pretreated with pertussis toxin (10 ng) to inactivate G proteins, omega-agatoxin IVA did not alter the morphine/clonidine synergism. Surprisingly, omega-agatoxin IVA reversed the additive morphine/clonidine interaction that occurs in morphine-tolerant mice back to synergism. These results suggest that functional P-type Ca2+ channels play an essential role in the antinociceptive synergism between spinal morphine and clonidine.

Role of 5-hydroxytryptamine3 (5-HT3) antagonists in the prevention of emesis caused by anticancer therapy.

Most anticancer drugs are cytotoxic and produce various side-effects, among which nausea and vomiting are almost ubiquitous and usually extremely distressing to the patient. Cancer chemotherapy elicits two main phases of vomiting: an intense, acute phase of vomiting that occurs almost immediately following anti-cancer therapy and a milder, delayed phase of nausea and vomiting of longer duration. The mechanisms underlying the induction of nausea and vomiting after cancer chemotherapy are poorly understood but may be mediated by serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine or 5-HT), particularly in the acute phase. Serotonin activates 5-HT3 receptors, which function as ligand-gated ion channels located either in the periphery and/or in the central nervous system to produce emesis, among other effects. The peripheral 5-HT3 receptors may be pharmacologically distinct from the central 5-HT3 receptors and may exhibit some association with GTP-binding proteins. In addition, different populations may exist as distinct subtypes of the same receptor. The 5-HT3 receptor antagonist ondansetron (GR 38032F) is effective in preventing the emesis induced by cytotoxic agents currently used in the treatment of many forms of cancer. Ondansetron has, comparatively, a much higher efficacy in the treatment of acute emesis following cancer chemotherapy than it does in the delayed phase, suggesting that the late phase of emesis may be mediated by other distinct mechanisms.

Spinal morphine/clonidine antinociceptive synergism: involvement of G proteins and N-type voltage-dependent calcium channels.

When morphine and clonidine are coadministered into the spinal cord (intrathecally) the resulting antinociception is greater than would be expected if the drug responses were additive; thus, a synergistic interaction. The mechanism for this synergistic interaction was investigated using agents which alter calcium channel function and G protein function. Drugs were administered intrathecally to mice and antinociception was measured using the tail flick test. The L-type calcium channel antagonists nifedipine (15 micrograms) and verapamil (15 micrograms) and the N-type antagonist omega-conotoxin GVIA (3 and 30 ng) decreased ED50 values for both morphine and clonidine three-to five-fold. The L-type calcium channel activator Bay K 8644 had a biphasic effect; 1.7 ng increased, although 170 ng decreased, morphine and clonidine ED50 values. None of the calcium channel modifiers affected the morphine/clonidine synergism. In mice pretreated with pertussis toxin (PTX, one, 10-ng dose 21 days previously), the morphine ED50 value increased two-fold, although the clonidine ED50 value was not changed. PTX pretreatment did not alter the morphine/clonidine synergism. Also, in PTX-pretreated mice, nifedipine and 1.7 ng Bay K 8644 did not alter the morphine/clonidine synergism. However, in PTX-pretreated animals omega-conotoxin GVIA (3 ng) changed the morphine/clonidine synergism to an additive interaction. Thus, both N-type calcium channels and PTX-sensitive G proteins are likely involved in spinal morphine/clonidine synergism.

Inhibition of adenylyl cyclase activity by the cholecystokinin analog SNF 9007 in neuroblastoma x glioma NG108-15 hybrid cells.

The effect of the cholecystokininB (CCKB) receptor-selective cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8) analog SNF 9007 on forskolin-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity in NG108-15 hybrid cells was measured. The activity of SNF 9007 was compared to the delta opioid agonists D-Pen2-D-Pen5-enkephalin (DPDPE, delta 1 receptor-selective) and Tyr-D-Ala-Phe-Glu-Val-Val-Gly-NH2, (D-Ala2-deltorphin II, delta 2-receptor-selective) because SNF 9007 binds with moderate affinity to delta opioid receptors. SNF 9007 inhibited forskolin-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity with efficacy similar to DPDPE. IC50 determinations showed that D-Ala2-deltorphin II was the most potent, followed by DPDPE, then SNF 9007 (IC50 values = 0.013, 0.21 and 4.8 microM, respectively). CCK-8 had no effect on adenylyl cyclase activity. The delta 1 receptor-selective antagonist 7-benzylidenenaltrexone hydrochloride (BNTX, 10 nM) had no effect on the activity of any of these agonists, but the delta 2 receptor-selective antagonist naltriben methanesulfonate (NTB, 10 nM) increased IC50 values of all the agonists. Combinations of BNTX and NTB (10 nM each) increased the D-Ala2-deltorphin II IC50 value 12-fold, the DPDPE IC50 value 18-fold and the SNF 9007 IC50 value 26-fold. The effect of the combined delta antagonists on SNF 9007 activity was different from the effect on DPDPE or D-Ala2-deltorphin II activity. These data suggest that the interaction of the CCK-8 analog SNF 9007 with opioid receptors in NG108-15 hybrid cells is different from the interaction of opioid peptides with these receptors.

Decreased spinal morphine/clonidine antinociceptive synergism in morphine-tolerant mice.

The antinociceptive interactions between spinally administered opioids and the alpha 2 agonist clonidine were examined in placebo and morphine pellet-implanted mice using the tail flick test. In placebo pellet-implanted animals, coadministered morphine and clonidine produced a synergistic antinociceptive effect. In mice implanted with morphine pellets, the synergism decreased to an additive interaction. The interactions between clonidine and the mu agonist Tyr-D-Ala-Gly-N-Me-Phe-Gly-ol (DAMGO), the delta agonist D-Pen2-D-Pen5-Enkephalin (DPDPE), and the kappa agonist U50-488H were also synergistic in placebo pelleted animals. In morphine pellet treated mice the DPDPE/clonidine interaction decreased to an antagonistic interaction, the DAMGO/clonidine remained synergistic and the U50-488H/clonidine interaction decreased to additive. These results support the proposal that the morphine spinal/supraspinal synergism depends upon the interaction between spinal opioid and alpha 2 receptors and a decrease in this interaction is a mechanism involved in development of tolerance to morphine. In addition, delta and kappa receptors appeared to be more involved in the morphine/clonidine decrease interaction than did mu opioid receptors.

Inhibition of neural and neuroendocrine activity by alpha-interferon: neuroendocrine, electrophysiological, and biochemical studies in the rat.

In our earlier studies we have demonstrated that recombinant human interferon-alpha 2A (rHu-IFN-alpha 2A) inhibits hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) secretion following both peripheral and central administration. Furthermore, this effect is antagonized by mu-opioid receptor antagonists, suggesting transduction by this subtype of opioid receptors. In the present studies, we demonstrate that this effect is also observed with the hybrid recombinant preparation, rHu-IFN-alpha A/D, and a leucocyte-derived rat IFN-alpha preparation. The inhibitory effects on HPA activity were observed after intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of rHu-IFN-alpha 2A (10(3) U), rHu-IFN-alpha A/D (10(4) U), and of Rat-IFN-alpha (1 and 10 U). Similar effects were observed with intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of all three IFN-alpha preparations. No increases in plasma concentrations of corticosterone were observed with doses of rHu-IFN-alpha A/D up to 10(6) U (i.p.) or 7 x 10(5) U (i.c.v.), but increases were found following i.c.v. administration of high doses of Rat-IFN-alpha (10(3) and 5 x 10(3) U). The inhibitory effects of all of the IFN-alpha preparations tested were antagonized by naloxone, but the stimulatory effects of 5 x 10(3) U Rat-IFN-alpha were not. Injections of rHu-IFN-alpha 2A (10(4) U i.p.) to urethane-anesthetized rats decreased the electrical activity of the majority of hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus neurons tested, including putative corticotropin-releasing factor-secreting neurons antidromically identified as projecting to the median eminence. These electrophysiological data suggest that the decreases in HPA activity evoked by IFN-alpha are mediated by a rapid inhibitory effect at the level of the corticotropin-releasing factor-secreting neurons. The sensitivity of many central nervous system effects of IFN-alpha to mu-receptor antagonists strongly suggests that the cytokine serves as an endogenous opioid agonist arising from the immune system. In support of this hypothesis we have shown that SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells, differentiated with retinoic acid treatment to express predominantly mu-receptors, are sensitive to rHu-IFN-alpha 2A in vitro. This sensitivity took the form of a dose-dependent inhibition of forskolin-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity. The data yielded an IC50 (95% confidence intervals) value of 7.93 (5.70-11.04) nM for this effect. Neither undifferentiated SH-SY5Y cells nor NG108-15 mouse neuroblastoma x rat glioma hybrid cells (expressing delta-receptors) were affected by rHu-IFN-alpha 2A.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Scalping accidents with shielded PTO units: four case reports.

1. The type of guard on a hay baler, noted as the inverted U-shield, does not completely enclose the driveline. The underneath side is extremely hazardous, and entanglement is likely. 2. Wind speed and direction, height of the driveline, and workers' hair length may contribute to the risk for entanglement. 3. This type of driveline warrants retrofitting and recognition of the need to shut off the driveline before approaching it. 4. Operators should periodically examine machinery to determine whether unguarded areas on the machine pose a hazard, and contact an authorized equipment dealer to determine if any of their machinery requires a retrofit shield or other safety modification recommended by the manufacturer.

Spinal interactions between opioid and noradrenergic agonists in mice: multiplicativity involves delta and alpha-2 receptors.

The nature of the interaction between spinally administered opioid and alpha-2 agonists was investigated using the substance P behavioral test in mice. Morphine and agonists which more selectively activate mu or delta opioid receptors were co-administered intrathecally with direct and indirect acting adrenergic agonists norepinephrine, cocaine or clonidine and the behavioral responses to intrathecally coadministered substance P were evaluated. The ED50 values for agonists administered separately and concurrently were computed and drug interactions were evaluated using isobolographic analyses. After separate administration, all the opioid and adrenergic agonists inhibited the substance P-induced behavioral responses. Upon coadministration of opioid and adrenergic agonists, a multiplicative interaction was observed between morphine or the delta agonist D-Pen2-D-Pen-5-enkephalin and the adrenergic agonists. Additive or antagonistic interactions were found between the mu agonist Tyr-D-Ala-NMe-Phe-Gly(ol) and the same adrenergic agonists. The opioid antagonist naloxone and the alpha-2 adrenergic antagonist idazoxan were given as intrathecal pretreatments at doses chosen to shift the dose-response curves of their corresponding agonist (given alone) 4- to 10-fold to the right; this always resulted in a smaller, but significant (2- to 4-fold) shift in the dose-response curve of the other agonist given alone. Intrathecal pretreatment with naloxone or idazoxan altered some interactions between the opioids and clonidine. Although naloxone blocked completely the multiplicative interaction between morphine and clonidine, idazoxan did not. Both naloxone and idazoxan changed the antagonistic interaction between Tyr-D-Ala-NMe-Phe-Gly(ol) and clonidine to a multiplicative interaction. Neither antagonist blocked the multiplicative interaction between D-Pen2-D-Pen5-enkephalin and clonidine. These results suggest that: 1) interactions between opioid and adrenergic agonists in mouse spinal cord are mediated by delta and alpha-2 receptor subtypes; 2) the synergistic interaction between morphine and alpha-2 adrenergic agonists may involve action at delta opioid receptors; and 3) antagonist action on these drug interactions is complex.

Identification of three separate guanine nucleotide-binding proteins that interact with the delta-opioid receptor in NG108-15 neuroblastoma x glioma hybrid cells.

Five separate guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (G proteins) were immunologically identified in membranes from neuroblastoma x glioma NG108-15 hybrid cells. These alpha subunit proteins were Gi2 alpha, two isoforms of Gi3 alpha, and two isoforms of Go alpha. The G proteins that interacted with delta-opioid receptors in these membranes were identified using cholera toxin (CTX)-induced ADP-ribosylation and antisera selective for various G protein alpha subunits. In the presence of delta-opioid agonists, CTX induced the incorporation of [32P]ADP-ribose into three pertussis toxin substrates. Using antisera generated against peptide sequences from G alpha subunits, these three pertussis toxin substrates were identified as Gi2 alpha, Go2 alpha, and one isoform of Gi3 alpha, which has yet to be identified. This CTX-induced labeling was demonstrated to be mediated via the delta-opioid receptor in these hybrid cells by the observation that delta agonists D-Ala2-D-Leu5-enkephalin (DA-DLE) and D-Pen2-D-Pen5-enkephalin, as well as the nonselective agonists etorphine and bremazocine, were active, but the mu agonist PL017 and the kappa agonist U-50-488H did not show this activity. This incorporation into all three substrates induced by DADLE was dose dependent, with EC50 (95% confidence interval) values ranging from 12 (3-52) to 183 (65-520) nM, which compared with the Kd value of 10 +/- 1.5 nM for this agonist, a dose that produces maximal inhibition of adenylate cyclase activity. Furthermore, pretreatment of the cells with pertussis toxin or treatment of the membranes with the antagonist naloxone blocked the incorporation induced by DADLE. Incorporation of [32P]ADP-ribose into all three substrates decreased 35-83% in membranes in which the receptors had been down-regulated by chronic treatment of the cells with DADLE. Thus, a single opioid receptor type can interact with three separate G proteins.

Requirement of ADP-ribosylation for the pertussis toxin-induced alteration in electrophoretic mobility of G-proteins.

Pertussis toxin (PTX) catalyzes the ADP-ribosylation of the alpha-subunit of GTP-binding proteins (G-proteins) in the presence of NAD+. Pertussis toxin also decreases the electrophoretic mobility of the alpha-subunit on urea SDS PAGE. This effect of PTX has been suggested to be a property of the toxin different from its ability to catalyze ADP-ribosylation. However, the present report provides evidence to the contrary; ie, this mobility shift required the ADP-ribosylation of alpha-subunits. This conclusion was based on: (1) in the presence of increasing concentrations of NAD+ (0.026-1.3 microM), there was a linear increase in the formation of the slower migrating alpha-subunit as measured by immunoblotting with selective antisera, (2) addition of NADase to the incubation mixture completely eliminated the formation of this protein, and (3) increasing concentrations of nicotinamide (50-250 mM), which inhibits ADP-ribosylation, decreased the amount of the slower migrating alpha-subunit. Thus, in addition to PTX, NAD+ was required for the mobility shift and the slower migrating alpha-subunit is likely the ADP-ribosylated form.

Isobolographic analysis of analgesic interactions between intrathecally and intracerebroventricularly administered fentanyl, morphine and D-Ala2-D-Leu5-enkephalin in morphine-tolerant and nontolerant mice.

Concurrent administration of morphine sulfate i.c.v. and i.t. produces a multiplicative interaction for analgesia in the tail flick response in mice. This interaction decreases to an additive interaction in mice which are tolerant to s.c. morphine. To test the responses of opioids selective for mu or delta receptors, the present study examined the interactions between fentanyl citrate (mu agonist) and D-Ala2-D-Leu5 enkephalin (DADLE, a relatively selective delta agonist) administered i.c.v. and i.t. using the tail flick test in control and morphine pellet-implanted mice. A method was developed for assigning statistical significance to the resulting ED50 values when analyzed isobolographically. When fentanyl or DADLE was administered i.c.v. plus i.t., an additive interaction between sites occurred in control animals, which changed to an antagonistic interaction for fentanyl and a multiplicative interaction for DADLE after morphine pellet treatment. When morphine was given i.c.v. along with i.t. fentanyl or DADLE in control animals, multiplicative interactions occurred when equipotent doses were given. Thus, opioids which were more receptor-selective than morphine did not produce multiplicative interactions, but were multiplicative when given with morphine. These results suggest that activation of combinations of receptors (by morphine) was required for the multiplicative interaction. The supraspinal site involved mu receptors (which are not self-sufficient and require an additional component) and the spinal site involved mu or delta receptors. The use of isobolographic analysis required that the drugs, when administered concurrently at two sites, be given in a constant dose ratio.

Heroin acts on different opioid receptors than morphine in Swiss Webster and ICR mice to produce antinociception.

The opioid receptor types involved in supraspinal and spinal heroin-induced analgesia in Swiss Webster and ICR mice were determined by intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) and intrathecal (i.t.) administration of opioid agonists and antagonists. Also, comparisons were made with morphine. Antinociception was measured by changes in tail-flick latency. In Swiss Webster mice, i.c.v. heroin like [D-Pen2-D-Pen5]enkephalin, a delta receptor opioid agonist, activated supraspinal delta opioid receptors as evidenced by inhibition of analgesia by coadministration of naltrindole, a delta receptor antagonist. Lack of effect of i.t. yohimbine and methysergide vs. i.c.v. heroin indicated that spinal descending noradrenergic and serotonergic systems were not involved. Heroin and [D-Pen2-D-Pen5]enkephalin were also matched in producing additive interactions with i.t. opioids. Also, i.c.v. heroin like [D-Pen2-D-Pen5]enkephalin did not activate a dynorphin-mediated antianalgesic system. In ICR mice, i.c.v. heroin receptor selectivity matched that of i.c.v. Tyr-D-Ala2-Gly-NMePhe4-Gly-ol5, a selective mu receptor opioid agonist. Analgesia was inhibited by pretreatment with i.c.v. beta-funaltrexamine, a nonequilibrium mu receptor antagonist. Intrathecal administration of methysergide inhibited i.c.v. heroin-induced analgesia whereas i.t. yohimbine had no effect, which indicated that a descending serotonergic system but not a noradrenergic system was involved. Low doses of i.t. naloxone and nor-binaltorphimine increased the analgesic effect. This effect was consistent with activation of an antianalgesic system by i.c.v. heroin, which was mediated by dynorphin A in the spinal cord. Desensitization of the antianalgesic system also resulted in increased analgesia. In both Swiss Webster and ICR mice, i.t. heroin-induced analgesia involved spinal mu receptors like those stimulated by Tyr-D-Ala2-Gly-NMePhe4-Gly-ol5. Analgesia was inhibited by i.t. naloxone. In both strains, i.t. heroin, like i.t. Tyr-D-Ala2-Gly-NMePhe4-Gly-ol5, produced an additive interaction with i.t. clonidine. In conclusion, the supraspinal receptors activated by heroin are different between Swiss Webster and ICR mice. In both strains, the receptor selectivities assigned to heroin did not match those for morphine. Heroin did not act by being biotransformed to morphine.

Multiplicative interaction between intrathecally and intracerebroventricularly administered mu opioid agonists but limited interactions between delta and kappa agonists for antinociception in mice.

Simultaneous action of morphine on supraspinal and spinal sites produces a multiplicative interaction for antinociception which may be important for the analgesia produced by systemically administered morphine. The purpose of this study was to see whether other agonists with more receptor selective opioid actions than morphine would also produce this multiplicative interaction. DAMPGO (Tyr-D-Ala2-Gly-NMePhe4-Gly-ol5), DPDPE (D-Pen2, D-Pen5, enkephalin) and U50-488H, opioid agonists highly selective for mu, delta and kappa receptors, respectively, were administered alone i.c.v. or intrathecally (i.t.) or in combination (i.c.v. plus i.t.) to determine ED50 values for the tail-flick response in mice. These ED50 values were examined isobolographically in relation to the theoretical additive ED50 values by the potency ratio method. First, DAMPGO given i.cv and i.t. was similar to morphine, indicating that simultaneous supraspinal and spinal mu agonist administration produce the multiplicative interaction. Second, concurrent administration of DPDPE or U50,488H, i.c.v. and i.t., as well as cross-over combinations of DPDPE at one and U50,488H at the other site, produced additive interactions only. The multiplicative interaction was a property characteristic of mu but not delta and kappa agonists. Based on the similarity between morphine and DAMPGO, it was postulated that both mu agonists act on redundant descending pain inhibitory pathways to produce multiplication. A second mechanism for multiplicative interaction was based on the difference between DAMPGO and morphine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Comparisons of descending pain inhibitory pathways activated by beta-endorphin and morphine as characterized by supraspinal and spinal antinociceptive interactions in mice.

Morphine administered concurrently by i.c.v. plus intrathecal (i.t.) injection produces a multiplicative (synergistic) interaction for antinociception in the tail-flick test. Inasmuch as i.c.v. administered beta-endorphin has been proposed to produce antinociception by activating a descending pain inhibitory system different from that activated by morphine, the present experiments compared the two systems in mice. The responses to i.c.v., i.t. and combinations of i.c.v. plus i.t. administration of morphine and beta-endorphin were evaluated by determination of ED50 values which were plotted as isobolograms and compared to calculated theoretical additive ED50 values. The following combinations gave additive interactions: i.c.v. plus i.t. beta-endorphin, i.c.v. beta-endorphin plus i.t. morphine and i.t. morphine plus i.t. beta-endorphin. These results were consistent with the hypothesis that i.c.v. beta-endorphin stimulates supraspinal epsilon receptors which activate a descending pathway involving enkephalinergic neuronal mediation and spinal postsynaptic mu receptors. Stimulation of these mu receptors by i.t. morphine or i.t. beta-endorphin together with the supraspinal effect of beta-endorphin resulted in an additive interaction. Multiplicative interactions were obtained for the following combinations: i.c.v. morphine plus i.t. morphine, i.c.v. morphine plus i.t. beta-endorphin and i.c.v. morphine plus i.c.v. beta-endorphin. Morphine administered i.c.v. stimulated supraspinal mu receptors to activate a descending pain inhibitory pathway which is mediated spinally by monoamines. The i.t. agonists in this case activated the spinal mu receptor which is presumed to be part of the beta-endorphin descending pathway described above. Thus, when both pathways were activated simultaneously the interaction was multiplicative.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Morphine antinociception in different strains of mice: relationship of supraspinal-spinal multiplicative interaction to tolerance.

In the rat and mouse when morphine is coadministered intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) in the brain and intrathecally (i.t.) in the spinal cord, a multiplicative (synergistic) interaction occurs for the antinociceptive response. In the male Swiss Cox mouse, with the development of a high degree of systemic tolerance to morphine, this multiplicative interaction decreases (becomes additive), whereas no change occurs in the ED50 for the i.c.v. or i.t. site itself. The purpose of the present study was to extend these findings in one mouse strain to other strains in order to determine how generally applicable such findings are to the phenomenon of tolerance to morphine. Eight different strains of outbred mice were used in the antinociceptive tail-flick test to quantify the multiplicative interaction of simultaneous administration (i.c.v. and i.t.) in relation to the amount of tolerance developed to morphine administered systemically (s.c.). Even though the control ED50 values for s.c. morphine were similar among strains, the amounts of tolerance developed by 3 days of implantation of a morphine pellet were very different (2-18-fold). A relationship was found between the degree of tolerance developed to s.c. morphine and changes in the multiplicative interaction (as reflected by changes in the i.c.v. plus i.t. morphine ED50 values). In control animals, a multiplicative i.c.v.-i.t. interaction was produced in six of the eight strains, whereas an additive interaction was shown in the remaining two strains. With 3 days of morphine pellet implantation, in three strains which developed a large amount of tolerance to s.c. morphine (7-18-fold), the multiplicative interaction decreased to an additive interaction.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)