The selective non-peptidic delta opioid agonist SNC80 does not facilitate intracranial self-stimulation in rats.

Abstract

Delta opioid receptor agonists are under development for a variety of clinical applications, and some findings in rats raise the possibility that agents with this mechanism have abuse liability. The present study assessed the effects of the non-peptidic delta opioid agonist SNC80 in an assay of intracranial self-stimulation (ICSS) in rats. ICSS was examined at multiple stimulation frequencies to permit generation of frequency-response rate curves and evaluation of curve shifts produced by experimental manipulations. Drug-induced leftward shifts in ICSS frequency-rate curves are often interpreted as evidence of abuse liability. However, SNC80 (1.0-10 mg/kg s.c.; 10-56 mg/kg i.p.) failed to alter ICSS frequency-rate curves at doses up to those that produced convulsions in the present study or other effects (e.g. antidepressant effects) in previous studies. For comparison, the monoamine releaser d-amphetamine (0.1-1.0 mg/kg, i.p.) and the kappa agonist U69,593 (0.1-0.56 mg/kg, i.p.) produced dose-dependent leftward and rightward shifts, respectively, in ICSS frequency-rate curves, confirming the sensitivity of the procedure to drug effects. ICSS frequency-rate curves were also shifted by two non-pharmacological manipulations (reductions in stimulus intensity and increases in response requirement). Thus, SNC80 failed to facilitate or attenuate ICSS-maintained responding under conditions in which other pharmacological and non-pharmacological manipulations were effective. These results suggest that non-peptidic delta opioid receptor agonists have negligible abuse-related effects in rats.

• Authors: Gail Pereira Do Carmo, John E Folk, Kenner C Rice, Elena Chartoff, William A Carlezon Jr, S Stevens Negus
• Journal: European journal of pharmacology (Eur J Pharmacol) Vol. 604 Issue 1-3 Pg. 58-65 (Feb 14 2009) ISSN: 1879-0712 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 19133255 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural)

Chemical References

• Benzamides
• Piperazines
• Receptors, Opioid, delta
• 4-(alpha-(4-allyl-2,5-dimethyl-1-piperazinyl)-3-methoxybenzyl)-N,N-diethylbenzamide

Topics

• Animals
• Behavior, Animal (drug effects)
• Benzamides (adverse effects, pharmacology)
• Brain (drug effects, metabolism)
• Electric Stimulation
• Opioid-Related Disorders (etiology)
• Piperazines (adverse effects, pharmacology)
• Rats
• Rats, Sprague-Dawley
• Receptors, Opioid, delta (agonists)
• Seizures (chemically induced)
• Self Stimulation (drug effects)