Evidence for Separate Involvement of Different μ-Opioid Receptor Subtypes in Itch and Analgesia Induced by Supraspinal Action of Opioids

Tsugunobu Andoh; Yuichi Yageta; Mitsuhiro Konno; Tomomi Yamaguchi-Miyamoto; Hiroki Takahata; Hiroshi Nojima; Hideo Nemoto; Yasushi Kuraishi

doi:10.1254/jphs.08004SC

Short Communications

Evidence for Separate Involvement of Different μ-Opioid Receptor Subtypes in Itch and Analgesia Induced by Supraspinal Action of Opioids

Tsugunobu Andoh, Yuichi Yageta, Mitsuhiro Konno, Tomomi Yamaguchi-Miyamoto, Hiroki Takahata, Hiroshi Nojima, Hideo Nemoto, Yasushi Kuraishi

Author information

Tsugunobu Andoh
Department of Applied Pharmacology, Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama, Japan
Yuichi Yageta
Department of Applied Pharmacology, Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama, Japan
Mitsuhiro Konno
Department of Applied Pharmacology, Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama, Japan
Tomomi Yamaguchi-Miyamoto
Department of Applied Pharmacology, Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama, Japan
Hiroki Takahata
Department of Organic and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku Pharmaceutical University, Japan
Hiroshi Nojima
Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ohu University, Japan
Hideo Nemoto
Laboratory of Medical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama, Japan
Yasushi Kuraishi
Department of Applied Pharmacology, Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama, Japan
21st Century COE Program, University of Toyama, Japan

Keywords: morphine, morphine-6β-glucronide, itch

JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

2008 Volume 106 Issue 4 Pages 667-670

DOI https://doi.org/10.1254/jphs.08004SC

View "Advance Publication" version (April 9, 2008).

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Abstract

The common adverse effect of centrally-injected μ-opioid receptor (μ-OR) agonists is pruritus. This study was conducted using mice to examine whether different subtypes of μ-OR would be responsible for pruritus and analgesia. Intracisternal injections of morphine and morphine-6β-glucronide (M6G), but not M3G, produced an antinociceptive effect. Morphine, but neither M6G nor M3G, induced facial scratching, a pruritus-related response. Facial scratching following morphine was not affected by the μ₁-OR antagonist naloxonazine at doses that inhibited the antinociceptive effects. The results suggest that different subtype and/or splice variants of μ-OR are separately involved in pruritus and antinociception of opioids.

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