The effect of the narcotic antagonists naloxone, naltrexone and nalorphine on spinal cord c-fiber reflexes evoked by electrical stimulation or radiant heat

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Abstract

C-fiber reflexes were recorded from an S1 ventral root in the acute decrebrate low spinal cat following stimulation of the ipsilateral superficial peroneal nerve or application of radiant heat to the metacarpel footpad. Naloxone when administered i.v. increased the electrically evoked C-fiber reflex to 158% (±23.8% S.E.M.) of control 10 min after administration; whereas, naltrexone, 0.0025 mg/kg, increased the C-fiber reflex to 206 ± 26.1% (S.E.M.) of control. Naloxone in a dose of 0.050 mg/kg increased the radiant heat evoked ventral root reflex to 161 ± 19.5% of control. Nalorphine, 1 mg/kg, facilitated the electrically evoked C-fiber reflex to f282 ± 75% of control. These finding that naloxone and naltrexone facilitated these reflexes in doses too small to have non-specific excitatory effects and that nalorphine facilitated the C-fiber reflex at a dose level that is depressant to the flexor reflex in the chronic spinal dog are consistent with a hypothesis that these are due to antagonism of a naturally occuring opiate-like inhibitory substance.

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    From the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, Public Health Service, Alcohol, Drug Abuse and Mental Health Administration.

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