Biological time-dependent difference in effect of peroxynitrite demonstrated by the mouse hot plate pain model

We previously demonstrated the rhythmic pattern of L-arginine/nitric oxide (NO)/cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) cascade in nociceptive processes. The coupled production of excess NO and superoxide leads to the formation of an unstable intermediate peroxynitrite, which is primarily responsible for NO-mediated toxicity. In the present study, we evaluated the biological time-dependent effects of exogenously administered peroxynitrite on nociceptive processes and peroxynitrite-induced changes in the analgesic effect of morphine using the mouse hot-plate pain model. Experiments were performed at four different times of day (1, 7, 13, and 19 hours after lights on, i.e., HALO) in mice of both sexes synchronized to a 12 h:12 h light-dark cycle. Animals were injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) with saline or 10 mg/kg morphine 30 min before and 0.001 mg/kg peroxynitrite 30 sec before hot-plate testing, respectively. The analgesic effect of morphine exhibited significant biological time-dependent differences in the thermally-induced algesia; whereas, administration of peroxynitrite alone exhibited either significant algesic or analgesic effect, depending on the circadian time of its injection. Concomitant administration of peroxynitrite and morphine reduced morphine-induced analgesia at three of the four different study time points. In conclusion, peroxynitrite displayed nociceptive and antinociceptive when administered alone according to the circadian time of treatment, while it diminished analgesic activity when administered in combination with morphine at certain biological times.