Neurotransmitter-blocking agents influence antinociceptive effects of carbamazepine, baclofen, pentazocine and morphine on bradykinin-induced trigeminal pain.

The influence of naloxone (a narcotic antagonist), bicuculline (a GABA antagonist), phentolamine (an alpha-blocking agent), propranolol (a beta-adrenergic blocking agent), haloperidol (a dopaminergic blocking agent), methysergide (a serotonergic blocking agent) and atropine (a muscarinic blocking agent), on the antinociceptive effects induced by carbamazepine, baclofen, pentazocine and morphine, were investigated with a new antinociception test, using the trigeminal pain induced by application of bradykinin onto the tooth pulp of the rat. The antinociceptive effect of carbamazepine was significantly inhibited by bicuculline, phentolamine, propranolol and haloperidol but not by naloxone, methysergide and atropine. The effect of baclofen was significantly reduced by naloxone, bicuculline, propranolol and atropine but not by phentolamine, haloperidol and methysergide. The antinociceptive actions of pentazocine and morphine on trigeminal pain were significantly reduced by naloxone and phentolamine, and by naloxone alone, respectively. These results suggest the involvement of different neurotransmitters in the antinociceptive effects of the four analgesic drugs on trigeminal pain induced by bradykinin.