[Role of the locus coeruleus in the mechanism of different types of analgesia].

The activity of antinociceptive mechanisms during exposure to cold swim stress (CSS), inescapable foot shock (FS) and morphine administration (10 mg/kg) was studied in rats subjected to bilateral lesions of locus coeruleus (LC). It has been shown that under all types of stimulation the latent periods (LP) of nociceptive reactions of paw licking and tail flick were significantly increased, as compared to baseline level, thus suggesting suppression of the pain sensitivity. In rats subjected to CSS and morphine administration significantly shorter LP were revealed in the experimental group, compared to the control, which suggested partial inhibition of antinociceptive mechanisms activity after LC lesion. FS did not cause any differences in the experimental and control groups. It is concluded that LC lesions cannot completely inhibit the antinociceptive mechanisms activated by CSS and morphine injection. In FS monoamine mechanisms of LC do not seem to play an important role in the functioning of antinociceptive mechanisms.