The effects of anilidopiperidine analgesics on single respiratory and non-respiratory neurones in the brain stem of the rat.

The effects of four anilidopiperidine analgesics, fentanyl, sufentanil, lofentanil and alfentanil on the activity of single neurones in the rat brain stem were examined using the technique of microiontophoresis. Neurones whose discharge rate could be related to respiration and non-respiratory neurones were studied. Alfentanil produced depression of neuronal firing which was slow in onset, shallow and prolonged, similar to the responses seen previously with etorphine. These responses were antagonised by naloxone. The depressant responses to fentanyl, sufentanil, and lofentanil were often different in character, being rapid in onset and of short duration, although slow long lasting responses also occurred and sometimes the two responses were combined. However, only the slow response was blocked by naloxone, the fast, short-duration response being naloxone-resistant. No differences in the responses of respiratory and non-respiratory neurones to these drugs were observed.