D2-like receptor agonist synergizes the μ-opioid agonist spinal antinociception in nociceptive, inflammatory and neuropathic models of pain in the rat.

D2-like receptor agonist synergizes the μ-opioid agonist spinal antinociception in nociceptive, inflammatory and neuropathic models of pain in the rat. Eur J Pharmacol. 2019 Mar 12;: Authors: Mercado-Reyes J, Almanza A, Segura-Chama P, Pellicer F, Mercado F Abstract Opioids are potent analgesic drugs, but their use has been limited due to their side effects. Antinociceptive effects of D2-like receptor agonists such as quinpirole have been shown at the spinal cord level; however, their efficacy is not as high as that of opioids. Dopaminergic agonists are long-prescribed and well-tolerated drugs that have been useful to treat clinically and experimentally painful conditions. Because current pain treatments are not completely effective, the aim of this work was to determine if a D2-like receptor agonist improves the antinociceptive effects of a μ-opioid receptor agonist. Drugs were intrathecally administered in adult rats; mechanonociceptive and thermonociceptive tests were carried out. Intraplantar injection of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) and sciatic loose ligation (SLL) were used for inflammatory and neuropathic models of pain, respectively. In intact animals, D-Ala2, N-MePhe4, Gly-ol-enkephalin (DAMGO; a µ-opioid receptor agonist) increased the paw withdrawal latencies (PWL) in thermal and mechanical nociceptive tests in a dose-dependent manner. Quinpirole (D2-like receptor agonist) increased PWL only in mechanonociception. I...
Source: European Journal of Pharmacology - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Tags: Eur J Pharmacol Source Type: research