[Effects of beta-(p-chlorophenyl)-GABA (baclofen) on response to noxious stimuli (author's transl)].

Effects of beta-(p-chlorophenyl)-GABA (baclofen), a muscle relaxant, on the response of mice and rats to various noxious stimuli were studied. In mice, 5 approximately 10 mg/kg i.p. of baclofen delayed the response time to tail-pinch and hot-plate stimuli but the relaxation was also apparent with this dose range. Mephenesin also delayed the response time to tail-pinch stimuli with the dose producing muscle relaxation. Baclofen, 3 mg/kg i.p., while producing no muscle relaxation, suppressed the acetic acid-induced writhing. The same effect, suppression of writhing and no muscle relaxation, was achieved with 50 mg/kg i.p. of mephenesin. In rats, baclofen (5 approximately 10 mg/kg i.p.) increased the response threshold in Randall-Selitto method and suppressed the bradykinin-induced symptoms, however, muscle relaxation was also produced with these same doses. Increase in response threshold in Randall-Selitto method was achieved with the dose of mephenesin producing muscle relaxation. The time courses of the depression of response to noxious stimuli and the muscle relaxation induced by baclofen and mephenesin were consistent in mice and rats. A small dose (3 mg/kg i.p. in mice, 2 mg/kg/h s.c. in rats) of baclofen reduced the antinociceptive effect of morphine but a larger dose (5 mg/kg i.p. in mice, 7 mg/kg/h s.c. in rats) of baclofen increased or did not alter the effect of morphine. It seems likely that the antinociceptive effect of baclofen may be nonspecific to analgesia.