Systemic administration of dynorphin A(1-13) markedly inhibits different behavioural responses induced by cocaine in...

The effects of systemic administration (i.p.) of dynorphin A(1-13) on the cocaine-induced behavioural alterations in the mouse were determined by using multi-dimensional behavioural analyses, based upon a capacitance system. A 1.0 mg/kg dose of cocaine did not influence behaviour, while increasing doses to 3-30 mg/kg produced a significant increment in the frequency of behaviour, such as linear locomotion, circling, rearing and grooming. Although a 1.0 mg/kg dose of dynorphin A(1-13) alone produced a significant decrease in grooming behaviour, larger doses (3.0 and 10.0 mg/kg) of the peptide failed to affect different behaviour. The cocaine (3.0 mg/kg)-induced increases in linear locomotion, circling and rearing behaviour were significantly inhibited by dynorphin A(1-13) (10.0 mg/kg). The inhibitory effects of dynorphin A(1-13) (10.0 mg/kg) were antagonized by the opioid antagonist Mr 2266 (5.6 mg/kg). It is thus possible that the systemic administration of dynorphin A(1-13) inhibits different behavioural responses induced by cocaine through the blood-brain barrier, although the instability of amino acid bonds or the relatively large molecular weight of dynorphin A(1-13), may result in the failure to demonstrate opioid activity by the peptide after systemic administration.