Role of N-methyl-d-aspartate and opiate receptors in nociception during and after ischaemia in rats

We have investigated the effects of systemic administration of two N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists and two opiate agonists on nociception during and after tail ischaemia in conscious rats. The two NMDA receptor antagonists, d-2-amino-5-phosphonovalerate (APV) and ketamine hydrochloride, did not alter tail flick latencies in rats not subjected to ischaemia but inhibited post-ischaemic hyperalgesia (PIH) in a dose-dependent manner. Neither of these agents impaired motor function of the rats, as assessed by rotarod performance, suggesting a purely sensory antinociceptive effect. The antinociceptive effect of APV during reperfusion following ischaemia was not antagonised by the μ-opiate receptor antagonist naloxone (1 mg/kg). The two opiate receptor agonists, morphine and pethidine, increased tail flick latencies in rats not subjected to ischaemia, inhibited PIH in a dose-dependent manner, and also caused significant motor malfunction, all in naloxone-reversible fashion. We conclude that the role of the NMDA receptor in mediating afferent nociceptive traffic is confined to its involvement in neuronal events mediating hyperalgesia. © 1992.