Theophylline-induced nociceptive behavioral response in mice: possible indirect interaction with spinal N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors.

Intrathecal administration of an adenosine receptor antagonist, theophylline, elicited nociceptive behavior such as licking, biting and scratching in mice. This behavioral response was dose-dependently reduced by simultaneous injection of an adenosine receptor agonist, 5'-N6-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine, or a selective N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, D-2-amino-5-phosphonovalerate. This theophylline-induced behavior was not significantly reduced by the substance P (SP) analogue, the neurokinin receptor antagonist, [D-Arg1, D-Trp7.9, Leu11]SP (spantide). These results suggest the possibility that theophylline-induced nociceptive behavior may be mediated through interactions with both spinal adenosine- and NMDA receptors separately, or only through interaction(s) with adenosine receptors localized on the axon terminals of excitatory amino acid neurons. Present data have failed to reveal involvement of SP.