The effect of medetomidine, an alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonist, in various pain tests.
Medetomidine, a new alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonist produced dose-dependent (30-100 micrograms/kg i.p.) analgesia in the formalin test in rats, and this effect was reversed by atipamezole (1 mg/kg), a new alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonist. However, medetomidine at the dose of 100 micrograms/kg did not influence tail flick latencies or latencies of the biting response to mechanical pinch stimuli. Moreover, medetomidine produced sedation and a decrease in locomotor activity. In comparison, the non-sedative monoaminergic agent, cocaine (25 mg/kg), produced highly significant analgesic effects in the formalin and mechanical pain tests. The cocaine effect in the formalin test was not reversed by atipamezole (1 mg/kg). It is concluded that the analgesic effect of medetomidine in the formalin test is due to supraspinal mechanisms related to sedation and is mediated by alpha 2-adrenoceptors. The alpha 2-adrenoceptors are not involved in cocaine-induced anagesia.[1]References
- The effect of medetomidine, an alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonist, in various pain tests. Pertovaara, A., Kauppila, T., Tukeva, T. Eur. J. Pharmacol. (1990) [Pubmed]
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