Nicotine-induced antinociception in mice: Role of G-proteins and adenylate cyclase

Abstract

The effects of pertussis toxin, forskolin, and cAMP analogues on the antinociceptive action of nicotine were examined to investigate the possible involvement of adenylate cyclase and G-proteins in nicotine's antinociceptive effect. Intrathecal injection of pertussis toxin (0.25 and 0.50 μg) in mice inhibited nicotine-induced antinociception in the tail-flick test. The effect of the toxin was dose and time dependent. Forskolin, a potent adenylate cyclase activator, and 8-(-4-chlorophenylthio) adenosine-3′:5′ monophosphate, cyclic (8-CPT-cAMP), a cAMP analogue, inhibited the antinociceptive effects of nicotine in a dose-dependent manner. EGTA reversal of 8-CPT-cAMP's inhibitory effects suggests that calcium may to be involved. These data implicate the possible involvement of a G-protein and a second messenger system (activation of a cAMP-dependent protein kinase and increase in cyclic AMP levels) in nicotine-induced analgesia in mice.