Desipramine potentiates spinal antinociception by 5-hydroxytryptamine, morphine and adenosine

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Abstract

The effects of pretreatment with desipramine, a selective noradrenaline (NA) uptake blocker, on spinal antinociception by 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), morphine and an adenosine analog (NECA) in the rat hot-plate test were examined to determine if endogenous NA is involved in the spinal action of these agents. Desipramine, 25 mg/kg, had no significant intrinsic effect in the hot-plate test but potentiated spinal antinociception by NA and 5-HT. Potentiation was more prominent at higher doses of NA and 5-HT. Desipramine also enhanced the action of morphine and NECA, but, in these instances, the greatest enhancement occurred at lower doses. These results, in conjunction with others, suggest that 5-HT releases NA from the spinal cord while morphine and NECA interact synergistically with endogenously released NA.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)113-118
Number of pages6
JournalPain
Volume50
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jul 1992

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

  • Neurology
  • Clinical Neurology
  • Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine

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