Participation of the opioid receptor – nitric oxide – cGMP – K+channel pathway in the peripheral antinociceptive effect of nalbuphine and buprenorphine in rats

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine if the peripheral antinociceptive effects of the opioid agonist/antagonist nalbuphine and buprenorphine involve the sequential participation of nitric oxide (NO) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) synthesis followed by K+channel opening in the formalin test. Wistar rats (180–220 g) were injected in the dorsal surface of the right hind paw with formalin (1%). Rats received a subcutaneous (s.c.) injection into the dorsal surface of the paw of vehicles or increasing doses of nalbuphine (50–200 μg/paw) or buprenorphine (1–5 μg/paw) 20 min before formalin injection into the paw. Nalbuphine antinociception was reversed by the s.c. injection into the paw of the inhibitor of NO synthesis (NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME)), by the inhibitor of guanylyl cyclase (1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ)), by the Kir6.1–2, ATP-sensitive K+channel inhibitors (glibenclamide and glipizide), by the KCa2.1–3, small conductance Ca2+-activated K+channel blocker (apamin), by the KCa1.1, large conductance Ca2+-activated K+channel blocker (charybdotoxin), and by the KV, voltage-dependent K+channel inhibitors (4-aminopyridine (4-AP) and tetraethylammonium chloride (TEA)). The antinociceptive effect produced by buprenorphine was blocked by the s.c. injection of 4-AP and TEA but not by L-NAME, ODQ, glibenclamide, glipizide, apamin, or charybdotoxin. The present results provide evidence for differences in peripheral mechanisms of action between these opioid drugs.