Effect of peptidase inhibitors on [Met5]enkephalin-Arg6-Phe7 and [Met5]enkephalin-Arg6-Gly7-Leu8-induced antinociception.

The effect of the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor 2-[N-[(S)-1-carboxy-3-phenylpropyl]-L-alanyl]-(1S,3S,5S)-2- -azabicyclo(3.3.0)octane-3-carboxylic acid (Hoe 498 diacid) and the aminopeptidase inhibitor bestatin on antinociception induced in rats by intraventricular injections of [Met5]enkephalin-Arg6-Phe7 and [Met5]enkephalin-Arg6-Gly7-Leu8 was investigated. Potentiation and prolongation of the antinociception was observed after pretreatment with bestatin. Further potentiation of the antinociception elicited by the heptapeptide was obtained in rats pretreated with a combination of bestatin and Hoe 498 diacid. In contrast, antinociception elicited by the octapeptide was not potentiated further by pretreatment with the bestatin and Hoe 498 diacid combination.