Maldonado R, Feger J, Fournié-Zaluski MC, Roques BP. Differences in physical dependence induced by selective mu or delta opioid agonists and by endogenous enkephalins protected by peptidase inhibitors.
Brain Res 1990;
520:247-54. [PMID:
2169953 DOI:
10.1016/0006-8993(90)91712-p]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to investigate if a physical dependence could be induced by chronic activation of the endogenous enkephalinergic system. We have therefore evaluated naloxone-induced withdrawal syndrome in rats after central infusion during 7 days of comparable antinociceptive doses of RB 38 A ((R,S)HONH-CO-CH2-CH(CH2C6H5)-CONH-CH(CH2C6H5)-COOH), a mixed enkephalin catabolism blocker and of the selective mu, DAGO (Tyr-D-Ala-Gly-(Me)Phe-Gly-ol) and delta, DSTBULET (Tyr-D-Ser(OtBu)-Gly-Phe-Leu-Thr), opioid agonists. The responses were compared to those induced by RB 38 B ((S,S)HONH-CO-CH2-CH(CH2C6H5)-CONH-CH(CH2C6H5)-COOH), a selective inhibitor of the 24.11 neutral endopeptidase (NEP) 'enkephalinase'. DAGO induced a severe withdrawal syndrome evidenced by a large weight loss, hypothermia, jumping, mastication, teeth chattering, diarrhoea, lacrimation and salivation. In contrast, DSTBULET and RB 38 A produced only a moderate physical dependence. Only two signs were statistically different in these two groups: wet dog shakes and temperature. Chronic i.c.v. administration of DAGO, DSTBULET and RB 38 A produced a time-dependent reduction in analgesia, but 120 h after continuous infusion only RB 38 A was able to still induce a significative antinociceptive effect. The present data suggest that even in the drastic conditions used here long-term complete inhibition of enkephalin catabolism induces a weak tolerance and a moderate physical dependence, similar to that produced by delta opioid agonists. This effect was not observed after chronic selective inhibition of NEP by RB 38 B.
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