The effect of quaternary naloxone on the increased naloxone potency induced by morphine.

Using the abdominal constriction test in mice it was shown that the antinociceptive effect of morphine was inhibited by naloxone hydrochloride and its quaternary derivative naloxone methylbromide which presumably only acts peripherally. Pretreatment with a single dose of morphine 2.0 mg/kg s.c. did not alter the antinociceptive effect of a second dose of morphine given 3 h later. However, the antagonistic effect of naloxone against morphine was enhanced at this time. The development of increased naloxone potency was inhibited when naloxone hydrochloride was given together with morphine in the pretreatment. A similar inhibitory effect was observed when the quaternary derivative naloxone methylbromide was used instead of naloxone hydrochloride in the pretreatment regime. As there was no difference between the effects of naloxone hydrochloride and naloxone methylbromide in suppressing the development of increased naloxone potency induced by morphine pretreatment, it was concluded that this phenomenon may be mediated mainly through peripheral opiate receptors.