Blockade effect of mu and kappa opioid antagonists on the anti-nociception induced by intra-periaqueductal grey injection of oxytocin in rats

Abstract

Intra-periaqueductal grey (PAG) injection of 1 nmol of oxytocin induced significant increases in hindpaw withdrawal latency (HWL) to thermal and mechanical stimulation in rats. The anti-nociceptive effect of oxytocin was attenuated significantly by subsequent intra-PAG injection of the mu opioid antagonist β-funaltrexamine (β-FNA) and the kappa opioid antagonist nor-binaltorphimine (nor-BNI), but not by the delta antagonist naltrindole. The results demonstrated that mu and kappa opioid receptors, not delta receptors, were involved in the oxytocin-induced anti-nociception in PAG of rats.