[D-Pen2,L-Pen5]enkephalin induced analgesia in the jimpy mouse: in vivo evidence for delta-receptor mediated analgesia.

Jimpy (B6CBA-A W-J/A-Ta jp) mice, which are known to be deficient in neuronal cerebroside sulfate (a putative component of the mu opioid receptor), were non-responsive in the tail flick test (compared to littermate controls and a standard Swiss strain of mouse) to analgesic doses of two mu opioid receptor agonists, morphine sulfate and [D-Ala2,MePhe4,Gly-ol5]enkephalin (DAGO). However, the jimpy mice responded normally (compared to controls) to the analgesic effects of the selective delta opioid receptor agonist [D-Pen2,L-Pen5]enkephalin (DPLPE). These results suggest (1) that delta opioid receptors can mediate analgesia and (2) that cerebroside sulfate is not necessary for delta opioid receptor activation.