Effects of intracerebroventricularly administered mu-, delta- and kappa-opioid agonists on locomotor activity of the guinea pig and the pharmacology of the locomotor response to U50,488H

Abstract

The effects of intracerebroventricular administration of morphine, the selective mu-agonist DAMGO, the delta-agonist DPDPE, the kappa-preferring peptide dynorphin A(1-13) and the kappa-agonist U50,488H on locomotor behaviour in the guinea pig were investigated. Morphine (total dose = 0.01, 0.1, 1, 10, 200 nmol), DAMGO and DPDPE (total dose = 0.1, 1, 10, 100 nmol of each) produced piloerection and sedation, indicating that the responses of guinea pigs to mu- and delta-opioid agonists differed from those of rats and mice. In contrast, U50,488H (total dose = 10, 100 nmol) and dynorphin A(1-13) (total dose = 100 nmol) produced increased locomotor activity which was attenuated by pretreatment with naloxone and norbinaltorphimine, thus confirming the involvement of kappa-opioid receptors. Furthermore, pretreatment with spantide, baclofen, muscimol, bicuculline, MK-801, raclopride and atropine also inhibited the U50,488H-induced locomotor activity, suggesting the involvement of GABA, dopamine, excitatory amino acids, substance P and acetylcholine in this response.