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Functional studies using antibodies against orphanin FQ/nociceptin
Peptides
|September 22, 2000
Summary
Endogenously released Orphanin FQ/nociceptin (OFQ) increases pain sensitivity in the brain but decreases it in the spinal cord. This endogenous OFQ also plays a role in reversing tolerance to analgesia.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pain Research
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Orphanin FQ/nociceptin (OFQ) is an endogenous ligand for the opioid receptor-like receptor (ORL-1).
- Exogenous OFQ exhibits paradoxical effects on pain, being pronociceptive in the brain and analgesic in the spinal cord.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the physiological pain-modulatory effects of endogenously released OFQ.
- To elucidate the role of endogenous OFQ in electroacupuncture (EA) analgesia and tolerance development.
Main Methods:
- Utilized antibody microinjection techniques to measure endogenous OFQ activity.
- Administered OFQ-antibody intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) and intrathecally.
- Investigated the effects on electroacupuncture analgesia and tolerance to chronic morphine and EA.
Main Results:
- Intracerebroventricular OFQ-antibody injection increased electroacupuncture analgesia.
- Intrathecal OFQ-antibody injection decreased electroacupuncture analgesia.
- Intracerebroventricular OFQ-antibody partially reversed tolerance to chronic morphine and chronic EA.
Conclusions:
- Endogenously released OFQ plays a significant role in pain modulation.
- Endogenous OFQ increases pain sensitivity in the brain and decreases it in the spinal cord.
- Endogenous OFQ is involved in the development of analgesic tolerance.