Endomorphin-2, deltorphin II and their analogs suppress formalin-induced nociception and c-Fos expression in the rat spinal cord.

Abstract

In this study, we evaluated the effects of intrathecally administered agonists of mu- and delta-opioid receptor and their analogs on the pain-induced behavior and expression of c-Fos immunoreactivity in the spinal cord, elicited by intraplantar injection of 12% formalin to the hindpaw of the rat. Previous report from our laboratory and other author's study indicated that intrathecal administration of mu agonists morphine and endomorphin-2 and delta-opioid agonist deltorphin II produced a dose-dependent antinociceptive effects in acute and inflammatory pain. In this study, intrathecal injection of morphine (10 microg), endomorphin-2 (5 microg) and its analog Dmt-endomorphin-2 (10 microg) significantly decreased the formalin-induced pain behavior, and lowered a number of c-Fos positive neurons in the laminae I, II and III of the spinal cord by about 40%, 30% and 40%, respectively. Significant reduction of formalin-induced behavioral responses was also observed after i.th. administration of deltorphin II (15 microg) and its analog ile-deltorphin II (15 microg). Agonists of delta-opioid receptor significantly reduced a number of c-Fos positive neurons by about 28% and 40%, respectively. Analog of endomorphin-2 and analog of deltorphin II suppressed more potently expression of c-Fos in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord than the parent peptides. Our study indicates that new analogs of mu- and delta-opioid receptor exhibit strong antinociceptive potency similar or even higher than the parent peptides, and that their effect is positively correlated with the inhibition of c-Fos expression.

• Authors: Dominika Labuz, Agnieszka Chocyk, Krzysztof Wedzony, Geza Toth, Barbara Przewlocka
• Journal: Life sciences (Life Sci) Vol. 73 Issue 4 Pg. 403-12 (Jun 13 2003) ISSN: 0024-3205 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 12759135 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Analgesics, Opioid
• Oligopeptides
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos
• Receptors, Opioid, delta
• Receptors, Opioid, mu
• deltorphin
• deltorphin II, Ala(2)-
• Formaldehyde
• endomorphin 2
• Morphine

Topics

• Analgesics, Opioid (pharmacology)
• Animals
• Behavior, Animal
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Formaldehyde (pharmacology)
• Inflammation
• Male
• Morphine (pharmacology)
• Nociceptors (drug effects)
• Oligopeptides (biosynthesis, pharmacology)
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos (metabolism)
• Rats
• Rats, Wistar
• Receptors, Opioid, delta (drug effects)
• Receptors, Opioid, mu (drug effects)
• Spinal Cord (drug effects)
• Time Factors