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Discriminative stimulus effects of spiradoline, a kappa-opioid agonist
S G Holtzman1, L Cook, G F Steinfels
1Department of Pharmacology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322.
Psychopharmacology
|January 1, 1991
Summary
Spiradoline (U62,066) acts as a kappa-opioid receptor agonist, distinguishing its effects from morphine. This selective kappa-opioid action offers potential for studying opioid-mediated behaviors.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Neuroscience
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Spiradoline (U62,066) is a selective kappa-opioid agonist.
- Understanding its discriminative effects is crucial for behavioral pharmacology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the discriminative effects of spiradoline.
- To determine if spiradoline's effects are mediated by kappa-opioid receptors.
- To compare spiradoline's discriminative stimulus with morphine and other opioids.
Main Methods:
- Rats were trained to discriminate between saline and spiradoline or morphine.
- Generalization tests were conducted with U50,488, morphine, phencyclidine, and other opioids.
- Naltrexone was used to assess receptor blockade.
Main Results:
- Spiradoline-trained rats generalized to U50,488 but not morphine, phencyclidine, or mixed agonists/antagonists.
- Morphine-trained rats did not generalize to spiradoline.
- Naltrexone blocked spiradoline's effects, but was less potent than against morphine.
Conclusions:
- Spiradoline's discriminative effects are mediated by kappa-opioid receptors.
- No significant mu-opioid or PCP/sigma receptor involvement was observed.
- Spiradoline's potency and selectivity make it valuable for studying kappa-opioid-mediated behavior.