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Intraventricular Met5-enkephalin causes unexpected lowering of pain threshold and narcotic withdrawal signs in rats

Nature volume 264, pages 458–459 (1976)Cite this article

Abstract

PEPTIDES with opiate properties have been demonstrated in brain1–3 and pituitary4–7. Goldstein8 has postulated that sustained low-intensity pain might promote the central mobilisation of endogenous opioid as part of an adaptive response to noxious stimuli which cause suffering but do not threaten survival. We have examined the effects of intraventricular infusion of an endogenous opioid peptide, methionine-enkephalin3 (Met5-enkephalin), on responses to a sustained mildly noxious stimulus9 in rats. We expected Met5-enkephalin to attentuate responsiveness to the noxious stimulus, as has been reported10 for its effects on acute pain. On the contrary in our experiments, however, it seems to have increased responsiveness, and moreover to have induced behaviour typical of opiate withdrawal.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Manitoba, Faculty of Medicine, 770 Bannatyne Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3E 0W3, Canada

    L. LEYBIN, C. PINSKY & F. S. LABELLA

  2. Department of Physiology, University of Manitoba, Faculty of Medicine, 770 Bannatyne Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3E 0W3, Canada

    V. HAVLICEK & M. REZEK

Authors
  1. L. LEYBIN
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LEYBIN, L., PINSKY, C., LABELLA, F. et al. Intraventricular Met5-enkephalin causes unexpected lowering of pain threshold and narcotic withdrawal signs in rats. Nature 264, 458–459 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1038/264458a0

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