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Diazepam attenuates morphine antinociception test-dependently in mice
J H Rosland1, S Hunskaar, K Hole
1Department of Physiology, University of Bergen, Norway.
Pharmacology & Toxicology
|May 1, 1990
Summary
Diazepam (DZP) was found to reduce morphine
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Morphine is a potent analgesic.
- Diazepam is a benzodiazepine anxiolytic and sedative.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of diazepam on morphine's antinociceptive effects.
- To determine if diazepam antagonizes morphine analgesia.
Main Methods:
- Four different nociceptive tests in mice were employed: tail flick, constant temperature hot plate, increasing temperature hot plate, and formalin test.
- Dose-dependent effects of diazepam were assessed, with careful consideration of sedative side effects.
- Pharmacokinetic and thermoregulatory factors were controlled for.
Main Results:
- Diazepam dose-dependently reduced morphine's antinociceptive effect in the tail flick test.
- A low dose of diazepam (0.5 mg/kg) significantly attenuated morphine's effect in the constant temperature hot plate and tail flick tests.
- No antagonism was observed in the increasing temperature hot plate or formalin tests, suggesting test-dependent interactions.
Conclusions:
- Diazepam antagonizes morphine's antinociceptive effect, but this interaction is dependent on the specific nociceptive test used.
- The observed antagonism appears related to stimulus duration and the level of central nervous system integration involved in the pain response.