Vasopressin-Induced Antinociception: An Investigation into Its Physiological and Hormonal Basis^*

Abstract

Systemically administered lysine-8-vasopressin (LVP; 16-128 micrograms/kg) was found to induce a potent and dose-dependent antinociceptive effect, as measured by the tail-flick test in the rat. This effect could be seen in the absence of any significant change in general activity, indicating that it was not due to sedation or general motor debilitation. The antinociceptive effect of LVP does not appear to be mediated by endogenous opiates or other pituitary hormones, as evidenced by: 1) the lack of antagonism by the opiate receptor blocker naloxone, 2) the lack of cross-tolerance with morphine, and 3) its persistence after hypophysectomy. Des-glycinamide-LVP, a vasopressin analog with no appreciable pressor or antidiuretic action, showed no antinociceptive activity (128 micrograms/kg), and des-amino-arginine-vasopressin, a vasopressin analog with minimal pressor activity but greatly enhanced antidiuretic activity, was also relatively ineffective (128 micrograms/kg). These results suggest that the antinociceptive activity of vasopressin may be related to receptor types similar to those mediating its pressor effects. Nevertheless, the antinociceptive action of vasopressin does not appear to be secondary to its pressor activity, since phenylephrine failed to induce an antinociceptive effect at a dosage that mimicked the pressor response to vasopressin. These results are in concert with a growing body of evidence suggesting that vasopressin may be one of several nonopiate peptides that play a role in the modulation of pain sensitivity.

Plasma vasopressin is not involved in footshock-induced analgesia in rats.

“…VP was also shown to increase threshold temperature of TF. This finding further confirms the reported data that s.c. VP prolongs latency of TF (BERNTSON and BERSON, 1980;BODNAR et al, 1982;BERSON et al, 1983). In the present data the minimum dose of iv.…”

“…Footshocks have also been shown to increase plasma immunoreactive vasopressin (ir-VP) (ONAKA et al, 1986). A large amount of subcutaneous VP has been demonstrated to prolong latency of TF (BERNTSON and BERSON, 1980;BODNAR et al, 1982;BERSON et al, 1983). It is therefore possible that plasma VP may mediate footshock-induced analgesia.…”

New Topics in Vasopressin Receptors and Approach to Novel Drugs: Vasopressin and Pain Perception

“…Using rodent withdrawal reflex tests, such as the tail flick test, or more complex behavioral tests, such as the hot plate test, in which supraspinal motivational processing is involved, AVP and OT were shown to modify the nociception threshold induced by these noxious heat stimuli (33). In early reports, the antinociceptive activity was observed after either the intraventricular or subcutaneous administration of lysine vasopressin (LVP) in the rat or after intraperitoneal injection of AVP in mice (1,36,37). Des-glycinamide-LVP, a vasopressin analog with no apparent pressor or antidiuretic action, or des-amino-AVP, a vasopressin analog with minimal pressor activity but greatly enhanced antidiuretic activity, was also relatively ineffective (36,37).…”

“…In early reports, the antinociceptive activity was observed after either the intraventricular or subcutaneous administration of lysine vasopressin (LVP) in the rat or after intraperitoneal injection of AVP in mice (1,36,37). Des-glycinamide-LVP, a vasopressin analog with no apparent pressor or antidiuretic action, or des-amino-AVP, a vasopressin analog with minimal pressor activity but greatly enhanced antidiuretic activity, was also relatively ineffective (36,37). Later, intracerebroventricular injections of AVP or OT were shown to lead to antinociceptive effects in rats and in human cancer patients (38 -40).…”

Efeitos da estimulação elétrica do córtex motor na modulação da dor: análise comportamental e eletrofisiológica em ratos

“…Foi demonstrado que os três ramos estão representados em todo o complexo trigeminal e podem alcançar o CPME até do quarto segmento cervical e que aos ramos mandibular, maxilar e oftálmico dispõem-se com arranjo dorsoventral, respectivamente e que a representação sensitiva da face é realizada como lâminas concêntricas centradas na representação das regiões oral e nasal e situadas nas regiões central e rostral do subnúcleo caudal do trato espinal do nervo trigêmeo (Berson et al, 1983;Kunc, 1966).…”