Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) produces analgesia in a thermal injury model independent of its effect on systemic beta-endorphin and corticosterone

Long-term effect of morphine administration in young rats on the analgesic opioid response in adult life

Neonates, infants and children are often exposed to pain from invasive procedures during intensive care and during the post-operative period. Opioid anesthesia and post-operative opioid analgesia have been used in infants and result in clinical benefits. The objectives of this study were to verify the effect of repeated 5 microg morphine administration (subcutaneous), once a day for 7 days in 8-day-old rats, at P8 until P14. To verify the long-term effect of morphine, the animals were submitted to a second exposure of 5mg/kg (intraperitoneal) of morphine at P80 until P86. Animals that received morphine for 7 days, at P14 did not develop tolerance, however at P80, rats demonstrated greater morphine analgesia. At P86, after 7 days of morphine administration, animals showed classical tolerance. These findings may have important implications for the human neonate, suggesting a possible explanation for the differences in the requirements of morphine observed in the youngest patients.

The role of the hormones of the hypothalamo-hypophyseal-adrenocortical system in the analgesic effect of corticotropin-releasing hormone

Experiments on anesthetized male rats were performed to study the role of the hormones of the hypothalamo-hypophyseal-adrenocortical system (HHACS) in analgesia induced by central or systemic administration of corticoliberin-releasing hormone (CRF). Studies of the contribution of HHACS hormones were performed by blocking HHACS function by administration of hydrocortisone at a pharmacological dose one week before experiments started. Blockade of HHACS function, resulting in the inability of the system to increase hormone levels, resulted in a decrease in the analgesic effect resulting from systemic administration of CRF and completely abolished the analgesic effect after central administration of CRF. These data lead to the conclusion that there are two components involved in increasing the pain sensitivity threshold in response to administration of CRF: 1) a component dependent on HHACS hormones in central and systemic administration of CRF; 2) a component independent of HHACS hormones on systemic administration of CRF.

Exercise effects stress-induced analgesia and spatial learning in rats

Previous studies indicated that intensity level may be a determining factor in the beneficial or detrimental effects of exercise on spatial memory, as chronic low-intensity level exercise appears to enhance learning and memory which stressful situations may impair. This study examines the effects of different intensity levels of acute exercise (treadmill running) on spatial memory in rats. Using the Morris water maze, spatial learning was measured in animals exposed to treadmill running at low- (20-22 m/min for 25 min daily) and high-intensity (25 m/min for 25 min daily) levels of exercise. A stress control using an electric foot shock was used to examine if the high-intensity exercise was sufficient to serve as a stressor. Stress level was estimated by examining tail flick latencies as a measure of stress-induced analgesia. The results indicate that high-intensity exercise at a level that may not induce an analgesic state is sufficient to impair early acquisition of spatial learning. However, with additional trials, all animals are capable of learning the task. Acute exposure to the electric foot shock impaired learning in the Morris water maze. Surprisingly, across all studies, there was a significantly higher analgesic state post-swim as compared to pre-swim. The results indicate that irrespective of stress level prior to water maze testing, swimming in the Morris water maze repeatedly for short durations of time is enough to induce an analgesic state.

Reduction in touch sensitivity and hyperinnervation in vesicant-injured rabbit eyelid by direct injection of corticotropin releasing factor

Skin injury can result in inflammatory responses and increased sensitivity to touch. Corticotropin releasing factor (CRF), when administered locally or systemically, can reduce the inflammatory and hyperalgesic processes after skin injury. However, the mechanisms that control its effects are unclear. Doxorubicin injection produced inflammation, increased sensitivity to touch and more sensitive blink responses in eyelids of adult rabbits, and local injection of CRF reduced these changes. Doxorubicin alone resulted in a significant ingrowth of nerve fibers as determined by morphometric analysis of PGP 9.5 and substance P immunohistochemistry. Treatment with CRF significantly reduced this nerve fiber ingrowth, and a CRF antagonist partially blocked this protective effect. Thus, CRF has a potent tissue protective effect when administered locally after a vesicant-induced injury, and one mechanism of action is the reduction of nerve fiber ingrowth and sensitivity of the eyelid to touch.

Endogenous opiates and behavior: 2004

This paper is the 27th consecutive installment of the annual review of research concerning the endogenous opioid system, now spanning over 30 years of research. It summarizes papers published during 2004 that studied the behavioral effects of molecular, pharmacological and genetic manipulation of opioid peptides, opioid receptors, opioid agonists and opioid antagonists. The particular topics that continue to be covered include the molecular-biochemical effects and neurochemical localization studies of endogenous opioids and their receptors related to behavior, and the roles of these opioid peptides and receptors in pain and analgesia; stress and social status; tolerance and dependence; learning and memory; eating and drinking; alcohol and drugs of abuse; sexual activity and hormones, pregnancy, development and endocrinology; mental illness and mood; seizures and neurologic disorders; electrical-related activity and neurophysiology; general activity and locomotion; gastrointestinal, renal and hepatic functions; cardiovascular responses; respiration and thermoregulation; and immunological responses.