Genetic influences in opioid analgesic sensitivity in mice

Chaim G. Pick, Jie Cheng, Dennis Paul, Gavril W. Pasternak*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

75 Scopus citations

Abstract

Studies of various strains of mice revealed marked differences in their analgesic sensitivity towards morphine (μ), U50,488H (κ1) and naloxone benzoylhydrazone (NalBzoH; κ3). Sensitivity to μ and κ analgesia varied independently of the other. Analgesic sensitivity to morphine remained relatively consistent among 3 different nociceptive assays for each strain. However, the sensitivity of an individual strain to NalBzoH remained highly dependent upon the assay used. CD-1 mice were sensitive to NalBzoH in all 3 assays, but in BALB/c mice NalBzoH produced analgesia only in the hot plate and cold water tail-flick assays. In Swiss-Webster mice, NalBzoH was active in the radiant heat and cold water tail-flicks but inactive in the hot plate. Although the levels of μ, κ1 and κ3 binding in whole brain homogenates did vary somewhat, they did not correlate with analgesic sensitivity. These results suggests that the genetic controls over μ and κ analgesia operate independently and further illustrate the many difficulties in evaluating potential analgesics.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)295-298
Number of pages4
JournalBrain Research
Volume566
Issue number1-2
DOIs
StatePublished - 6 Dec 1991
Externally publishedYes

Funding

FundersFunder number
Pharmaceutical Manufacturer's Association Foundation
National Institute on Drug AbuseR01DA002615, DA00138, DA07241
National Cancer Institute
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center08748

    Keywords

    • Analgesia
    • Morphine
    • κ Receptor
    • μ Receptor

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