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Larson CM, Barajas C, Kitto KF, Wilcox GL, Fairbanks CA, Peterson CD. Development of opioid analgesic tolerance in rat to extended-release buprenorphine formulated for laboratory subjects. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0298819. [PMID: 38512918 PMCID: PMC10956808 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0298819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Buprenorphine in an extended-release formulation intended for use in laboratory subjects is frequently administered to rats to provide extended analgesia without repeated handling. While levels of buprenorphine may persist in serum once extended-release buprenorphine has been introduced, exposure to opioids can cause opioid tolerance or opioid-induced hypersensitivity. This work examined the analgesic duration and efficacy of a single administration of extended-release buprenorphine intended for use in laboratory subjects in models of inflammatory pain and post-operative pain and the development of opioid tolerance in rat. After subcutaneous administration of 1 mg/kg extended-release buprenorphine, analgesic efficacy did not persist for the expected 72 hours. No changes were observed in mechanical thresholds in the hindpaws that were contralateral to the injury, suggesting a lack of centrally mediated opioid-induced hypersensitivity. To determine whether opioid tolerance arose acutely after one exposure to extended-release buprenorphine, we conducted the warm water tail flick assay; on Day 1 we administered either saline or extended-release buprenorphine (1 mg/kg) and on Day 3 we quantified the standard buprenorphine dose-response curve (0.1-3 mg/kg). Rats previously given extended-release buprenorphine displayed decreased analgesic responses after administration of standard buprenorphine as compared to the robust efficacy of standard buprenorphine in control subjects. Males appeared to show evidence of acute opioid tolerance, while females previously exposed to opioid did not demonstrate a decreased response at the doses examined. Taken together, these results suggest that opioid tolerance arises quickly in male rats after exposure to the extended-release formulation of buprenorphine. This tolerance may account for the brief period of antinociception observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina M Larson
- Comparative and Molecular Biosciences, University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, St Paul, MN, United States of America
| | - Cecilia Barajas
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
| | - Kelley F Kitto
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
| | - George L Wilcox
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
- Department of Dermatology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
| | - Carolyn A Fairbanks
- Comparative and Molecular Biosciences, University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, St Paul, MN, United States of America
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
- Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
| | - Cristina D Peterson
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
- Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
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Tobacyk J, Parks BJ, Salazar P, Coward LU, Berquist MD, Gorman GS, Brents LK. Interaction between buprenorphine and norbuprenorphine in neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome. Drug Alcohol Depend 2023; 249:110832. [PMID: 37385117 PMCID: PMC10573081 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2023.110832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
Buprenorphine (BUP) is the preferred treatment for opioid use disorder during pregnancy but can cause neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS). Norbuprenorphine (NorBUP), an active metabolite of BUP, is implicated in BUP-associated NOWS. We hypothesized that BUP, a low-efficacy agonist of mu opioid receptors, will not antagonize NorBUP, a high-efficacy agonist of mu opioid receptors, in producing NOWS. To test this hypothesis, we treated pregnant Long-Evans rats with BUP (0, 0.01, 0.1 or 1mg/kg/day) ± NorBUP (1mg/kg/day) from gestation day 9 until pup delivery, and tested pups for opioid dependence using our established NOWS model. We used LC-MS-MS to quantify brain concentrations of BUP, NorBUP, and their glucuronide conjugates. BUP had little effect on NorBUP-induced NOWS, with the exception of 1mg/kg/day BUP significantly increasing NorBUP-induced NOWS by 58% in females. BUP and NorBUP brain concentrations predicted NOWS in multiple linear regression models. Interestingly, NorBUP contributed more to NOWS in females (βNorBUP = 51.34, p = 0.0001) than in males (βNorBUP = 19.21, P = 0.093), while BUP was similar for females (βBUP = 10.62, P = 0.0017) and males (βBUP = 11.38, P = 0.009). We are the first to report that NorBUP induces NOWS in the presence of BUP and it is more influential in females than males in the contribution of NorBUP to BUP-associated NOWS. These findings suggest that females are more susceptible to NorBUP-induced NOWS, and that treatment strategies that reduce prenatal NorBUP exposure may be more effective for females than males.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Tobacyk
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 W. Markham Street, Mail Slot 611, Little Rock, AR72205, USA
| | - Brian J Parks
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 W. Markham Street, Mail Slot 611, Little Rock, AR72205, USA
| | - Paloma Salazar
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 W. Markham Street, Mail Slot 611, Little Rock, AR72205, USA
| | - Lori U Coward
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences in the McWhorter School of Pharmacy at Samford University, 800 Lakeshore Dr, Birmingham, AL35229, USA
| | - Michael D Berquist
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 W. Markham Street, Mail Slot 611, Little Rock, AR72205, USA
| | - Gregory S Gorman
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences in the McWhorter School of Pharmacy at Samford University, 800 Lakeshore Dr, Birmingham, AL35229, USA
| | - Lisa K Brents
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 W. Markham Street, Mail Slot 611, Little Rock, AR72205, USA.
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Vidal-Torres A, Fernández-Pastor B, García M, Ayet E, Cabot A, Burgueño J, Monroy X, Aubel B, Codony X, Romero L, Pascual R, Serafini MT, Encina G, Almansa C, Zamanillo D, Merlos M, Vela JM. Bispecific sigma-1 receptor antagonism and mu-opioid receptor partial agonism: WLB-73502, an analgesic with improved efficacy and safety profile compared to strong opioids. Acta Pharm Sin B 2023; 13:82-99. [PMID: 36815042 PMCID: PMC9939367 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2022.09.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Revised: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Opioids are the most effective painkillers, but their benefit-risk balance often hinder their therapeutic use. WLB-73502 is a dual, bispecific compound that binds sigma-1 (S1R) and mu-opioid (MOR) receptors. WLB-73502 is an antagonist at the S1R. It behaved as a partial MOR agonist at the G-protein pathway and produced no/unsignificant β-arrestin-2 recruitment, thus demonstrating low intrinsic efficacy on MOR at both signalling pathways. Despite its partial MOR agonism, WLB-73502 exerted full antinociceptive efficacy, with potency superior to morphine and similar to oxycodone against nociceptive, inflammatory and osteoarthritis pain, and superior to both morphine and oxycodone against neuropathic pain. WLB-73502 crosses the blood-brain barrier and binds brain S1R and MOR to an extent consistent with its antinociceptive effect. Contrary to morphine and oxycodone, tolerance to its antinociceptive effect did not develop after repeated 4-week administration. Also, contrary to opioid comparators, WLB-73502 did not inhibit gastrointestinal transit or respiratory function in rats at doses inducing full efficacy, and it was devoid of proemetic effect (retching and vomiting) in ferrets at potentially effective doses. WLB-73502 benefits from its bivalent S1R antagonist and partial MOR agonist nature to provide an improved antinociceptive and safety profile respect to strong opioid therapy.
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