a-317491 and Peripheral-Nervous-System-Diseases

P2X3/P2X2/3 receptors have emerged as important components of nociception. However, there is limited information regarding the neurochemical systems that are affected by antagonism of the P2X3/P2X2/3 receptor and that ultimately contribute to the ensuing antinociception. In order to determine if the endogenous opioid system is involved in this antinociception, naloxone was administered just prior to the injection of a selective P2X3/P2X2/3 receptor antagonist, A-317491, in rat models of neuropathic, chemogenic, and inflammatory pain. Naloxone (1-10 mg kg(-1), i.p.), dose-dependently reduced the antinociceptive effects of A-317491 (1-300 micromol kg(-1), s.c.) in the CFA model of thermal hyperalgesia and the formalin model of chemogenic pain (2nd phase), but not in the L5-L6 spinal nerve ligation model of neuropathic allodynia. In comparison experiments, the same doses of naloxone blocked or attenuated the actions of morphine (2 or 8 mg kg(-1), s.c.) in each of these behavioral models. Injection of a peripheral opioid antagonist, naloxone methiodide (10 mg kg(-1), i.p.), did not affect A-317491-induced antinociception in the CFA and formalin assays, suggesting that the opioid component of this antinociception occurred within the CNS. Furthermore, this utilization of the central opioid system could be initiated by antagonism of spinal P2X3/P2X2/3 receptors since the antinociceptive actions of intrathecally delivered A-317491 (30 nmol) in the formalin model were reduced by both intrathecally (10-50 nmol) and systemically (10 mg kg(-1), i.p.) administered naloxone. This utilization of the opioid system was not specific to A-317491 since suramin-, a nonselective P2X receptor antagonist, induced antinociception was also attenuated by naloxone. In in vitro studies, A-317491 (3-100 microM) did not produce any agonist response at delta opioid receptors expressed in NG108-15 cells. A-317491 had been previously shown to be inactive at the kappa and mu opioid receptors. Furthermore, naloxone, at concentrations up to 1 mM, did not compete for [3H] A-317491 binding in 1321N1 cells expressing human P2X3 receptors. Taken together, these results indicate that antagonism of spinal P2X3/P2X2/3 receptors results in an indirect activation of the opioid system to alleviate inflammatory hyperalgesia and chemogenic nociception.

Topics: Analgesia; Animals; Arthritis, Experimental; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Endorphins; Formaldehyde; Freund's Adjuvant; Inflammation; Injections, Spinal; Ligation; Male; Naloxone; Narcotic Antagonists; Pain; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases; Phenols; Polycyclic Compounds; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Receptors, Purinergic P2; Receptors, Purinergic P2X2; Receptors, Purinergic P2X3; Suramin

We have recently reported that systemic delivery of A-317491, the first non-nucleotide antagonist that has high affinity and selectivity for blocking P2X3 homomeric and P2X2/3 heteromeric channels, is antinociceptive in rat models of chronic inflammatory and neuropathic pain. In an effort to further evaluate the role of P2X3/P2X2/3 receptors in nociceptive transmission, A-317491 was administered either intrathecally or into the hindpaw of a rat in several models of acute and chronic nociception. Intraplantar (ED50=300 nmol) and intrathecal (ED50=30 nmol) injections of A-317491 produced dose-related antinociception in the CFA model of chronic thermal hyperalgesia. Administration of A-317491 by either route was much less effective to reduce thermal hyperalgesia in the carrageenan model of acute inflammatory hyperalgesia. Intrathecal, but not intraplantar, delivery of A-317491 attenuated mechanical allodynia in both the chronic constriction injury and L5-L6 nerve ligation models of neuropathy (ED50=10 nmol for both models). Intrathecal injections of A-317491 did not impede locomotor performance. Both routes of injection were effective in reducing the number of nocifensive events triggered by the injection of formalin into a hindpaw. Nocifensive behaviors were significantly reduced in both the first and second phases of the formalin assay (intrathecal ED50=10 nmol, intraplantar ED50>300 nmol). Nocifensive behaviors induced by the P2X receptor agonist alpha,beta-meATP were also significantly reduced by intraplantar injection of A-317491. These data indicate that both spinal and peripheral P2X3/P2X2/3 receptors have significant contributions to nociception in several animal models of nerve or tissue injury. Intrathecal administration of A-317491 appears to be more effective than intraplantar administration to reduce tactile allodynia following peripheral nerve injury.

Topics: Acute Disease; Adenosine Triphosphate; Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; Animals; Carrageenan; Chronic Disease; Hindlimb; Hot Temperature; Inflammation; Injections, Spinal; Male; Motor Activity; Neuropeptides; Pain; Pain Measurement; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases; Phenols; Polycyclic Compounds; Purinergic P2 Receptor Antagonists; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Receptors, Purinergic P2X2; Receptors, Purinergic P2X3