Involvement of NMDA Receptor and L-type Calcium Channel in the Excitatory Action of Morphine.
- Author:
Bon Seop KOO
1
;
Hong Kee SHIN
;
Suk Han KANG
;
Jong Hun JUN
Author Information
1. Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea. shinhg@hanyang.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Dorsal horn neuron;
Morphine;
Excitatory action;
NMDA receptor;
Calcium channel
- MeSH:
Animals;
Calcium Channels;
Calcium Channels, L-Type*;
Electric Stimulation;
Excitatory Amino Acids;
Kainic Acid;
Morphine*;
N-Methylaspartate*;
Neurons;
Posterior Horn Cells;
Rats
- From:The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
2002;6(5):241-246
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
We studied the excitatory action of morphine on the responses of dorsal horn neuron to iontophoretic application of excitatory amino acid and C-fiber stimulation by using the in vivo electrophysiological technique in the rat. In 137 of the 232 wide dynamic range (WDR) neurons tested, iontophoretic application of morphine enhanced the WDR neuron responses to N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), kainate, and graded electrical stimulation of C-fibers. Morphine did not have any excitatory effects on the responses of low threshold cells. Morphine-induced excitatory effect at low ejection current was naloxone-reversible and reversed to an inhibitory action at high ejection current. NMDA receptor, calcium channel and intracellular Ca2+ antagonists strongly antagonized the morphine-induced excitatory effect. These results suggest that changes in intracellular ionic concentration, especially Ca2+, play an important role in the induction of excitatory effect of morphine in the rat dorsal horn neurons.
