Open AccessCharacteristics of Antinociception Induced by Noncatecholic Phenylethylamine Derivatives: The Relation of Endogenous Norepinephrine to Phenylethylamine Analog-Induced Antinociception
Author(s) -
Yutaka Matsuoka,
Mayumi Sakuma,
Toshihiko Sugioka,
Yasufumi Terawaki,
Tsutomu Uruno,
Keiichi Kubota
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
japanese journal of pharmacology/japanese journal of pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1347-3506
pISSN - 0021-5198
DOI - 10.1254/jjp.48.263
Subject(s) - norepinephrine , normetanephrine , chemistry , pharmacology , phentolamine , nociception , endogeny , dopamine , endocrinology , medicine , receptor , biochemistry , urine
Characteristics of the antinociceptive action of phenylethylamine derivatives, amphetamine, beta-phenylethylamine (PEA) and beta-hydroxyphenylethylamine (OHPEA), were examined. The pain threshold of mice was measured by using the hot plate method. Intraperitoneal administration of alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine inhibited antinociception induced by PEA and OHPEA, and intracisternal administration of norepinephrine increased antinociception induced by PEA and OHPEA. Intracisternal administration of phentolamine inhibited the antinociception induced by PEA derivatives. The levels of norepinephrine and normetanephrine in the brain were determined by using HPLC. PEA derivatives decreased norepinephrine in the brain and tended to increase normetanephrine at 15 min after the administration of PEA derivatives. These findings indicate that PEA derivatives cause the release of norepinephrine in the central nervous system, and the released norepinephrine induces antinociception.