Abstract

Extracellular single unit recordings were made from 74 neurons in the superficial and deeper dorsal horn of the medulla (trigeminal nucleus caudalis). N-methyl- d-aspartic acid (NMDA) excited nociceptive as well as non-nociceptive neurons. NMDA receptor antagonist, dl-2-Amino-5-Phosphonovaleric acid (AP-5), blocked the NMDA-evoked excitation. Microiontophoretic application of a selective μ-opioid receptor agonist, [ d-Ala 2,N-Me-Phe 4,Gly 5-ol]lenkephalin (DAMGO), reduced the NMDA-evoked responses of 100% of nociceptive specific (NS), 93% of wide dynamic range (WDR) and 86% of low threshold (LT) neurons in the superficial and deeper dorsal horn of the medulla. In contrast, application of a selective δ 1-opioid receptor agonist, [ d-Pen 2,5]enkephalin (DPDPE), reduced the NMDA-evoked responses of 90% of NS neurons, 72% of WDR neurons and 67% of LT neurons in the superficial and deeper dorsal horn of the medulla. DPDPE also produced excitatory or biphasic effects. The inhibitory actions of DAMGO and DPDPE were reversed by naloxone and/or 7-benzylidenenaltrexone (BNTX), μ- and δ 1-receptor antagonists. It is concluded that μ- and σ-opioid receptor agonists produce a predominantly inhibitory modulation of the NMDA-evoked responses of nociceptive and non-nociceptive neurons in the medullary dorsal horn.

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