N-acetyl beta-endorphin-(1-31) and substance P regulate the supraspinal antinociception mediated by mu opioid and alpha-2 adrenoceptors but not by delta opioid receptors in the mouse.

A desensitizing protocol to i.c.v. substance P (SP) (from 0.1-10 nmol x 2 at 25-min interval) diminished the supraspinal mu-mediated antinociceptive activity of morphine, D-Ala2-N-MePhe4-Gly-ol5-enkephalin (DAMGO), beta-endorphin-(1-31), D-Ala2-D-Leu5-enkephalin and of the alpha-2 agonist clonidine, whereas the activity of the highly selective delta ligands [D-Pen2,5]-enkephalin and [D-Ala2]-Deltorphin II remained unchanged. This effect was noncompetitive as the slopes for the antinociceptive dose-response curves diminished after SP pretreatment. The antagonism was evident within a few hours after SP and lasted longer than 15 days. The N-acetyl derivative of beta-endorphin-(1-31) (1 pmol) increased the antinociceptive response of DAMGO, D-Ala2-D-Leu5-enkephalin and clonidine, but not of morphine, in SP-pretreated mice. ED80 values of opioid agonists or naltrexone did not prevent SP from reducing the antinociceptive activity of opioids and clonidine. The effect of N-acetyl beta-endorphin-(1-31) was transitory and disappeared within 48 hr, after this period the long-lasting antagonism of SP was revealed. Clonidine (150 nmol) also enhanced opioid antinociception in SP-treated mice. This effect was reversed by the alpha-2 antagonist yohimbine (50 nmol) when given 10 min before clonidine. In mice undergoing treatment with pertussis toxin (0.5 micrograms i.c.v.), an agent that impairs the function of GTP-binding regulatory proteins (Gi/Go), the SP desensitizing protocol did not reduce further the antinociception of DAMGO or morphine. These results suggest a modulatory role for the SP system and the neuropeptide N-acetyl beta-endorphin-(1-31) upon mu and alpha-2 but not delta-mediated supraspinal antinociception in mice.