Additive antinociceptive effects of mixtures of the κ-opioid receptor agonist spiradoline and the cannabinoid receptor agonist CP55940 in rats

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9 Scopus citations

Abstract

Pain is a significant clinical problem, and there is a need for pharmacotherapies that are more effective with fewer adverse effects than currently available medications. Cannabinoid receptor agonists enhance the antinociceptive effects of μ-opioid receptor agonists; it is unclear whether they impact the effects of agonists acting at other opioid receptors. κ-Opioid receptor agonists have antinociceptive effects, but their clinical use is precluded by adverse effects; however, their therapeutic potential might be realized if antinociceptive effects could be selectively enhanced. In this study, the antinociceptive effects of the cannabinoid receptor agonist CP55940 and the κ-opioid receptor agonist spiradoline, alone and in combination, were studied in rats (n=7) using a warm water tail-withdrawal procedure. When administered alone, CP55940 (0.032-1.0 mg/kg) and spiradoline (1.0-32.0 mg/kg) increased tail-withdrawal latency, and mixtures of CP55940 and spiradoline (ratios of 1:3, 1:1, and 3:1) produced additive effects. It remains to be determined whether this additive interaction between a κ-opioid receptor agonist and a cannabinoid receptor agonist is selective for antinociception and whether it can be generalized to other drugs.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)69-72
Number of pages4
JournalBehavioural pharmacology
Volume27
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 2016

Keywords

  • Antinociception
  • Cannabinoid receptor agonist
  • Drug-drug interactions
  • Rat
  • Thermal nociception
  • κ-opioid receptor agonist

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pharmacology
  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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