Differences in the pharmacological actions of intrathecally administered neurotensin and morphine.

Neurotensin or morphine can each cause hypothermia and an antinocisponsive effect when administered into the liquor spaces of the rat brain. These actions of neurotensin are not blocked by naloxone whereas those of morphine are. The present experiments were carried out to examine the action of each substance following its injection into the subarachnoid space of the spinal cord. Given intrathecally, neurotensin evoked a dose-related fall in the rectal temperature of the rat without exerting an antinocisponsive action. Morphine on the other hand evoked hyperthermia and a dose-related antinocisponsive action. Since neurotensin exerted an effect on rectal temperature opposite to that of morphine and failed to exert an antinocisponsive effect, the data provide further evidence to suggest that neurotensin and morphine exert their effect via different mechanisms. Furthermore, the results also suggest that neurotensin exerts its antinocisponsive action via a supraspinal site.