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W L Dewey

Publications and source records attributed to W L Dewey.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

A proposed mechanism of action for the antinociceptive effect of intrathecally administered calcium in the mouse.

Administration of i.t. calcium has been shown to produce effects which are opposite to those observed when calcium is injected into the brain. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the mechanism of the antinociceptive action of calcium (i.t.). Injection of calcium (i.t.) produced antinociceptive effects in the tail-flick and p-phenylquinone (PPQ) stretching tests. The ED50 value for calcium (i.t.) in the PPQ test was 4.8 (4.2-5.5) nmol per mouse vs. 344 (251-469) nmol per mouse for calcium (i.t.) in the tail-flick test. The antinociceptive effects of calcium (i.t.) were attenuated significantly in the tail-flick test by pretreatment with naloxone (i.t.) (AD50 value = 200 pmol/mouse) and ICI-174,864 (i.t.) (AD50 value = 20 nmol/mouse), but not by the kappa receptor-selective antagonist nor-BNI. The antinociceptive effects of calcium (i.t.) were attenuated significantly in the PPQ test by pretreatment with naloxone (i.t.) (AD50 value = 50 pmol/mouse) and norbinaltorphimine (i.t.) (AD50 value = 110 pmol/mouse), but not by the delta receptor-selective antagonists naltrindole and ICI-174, 864. Administration of calcium (i.t.) significantly enhanced the antinociceptive effects of mu [D-Ala2,N-Me-Phe4,Gly-ol]enkephalin, delta [D-Pen2,D-Pen5]enkephalin and kappa (U50,488H) opioid receptor-selective peptides. The injection of the dibutyryl derivative of cyclic AMP (i.t.), as well as forskolin (i.t.), blocked the antinociceptive effects of calcium (i.t.) (AD50 values = 39 nmol and 1.7 nmol/mouse, respectively). Injection of apamin (AD50 value = 2.9 pmol/mouse) and charybodotoxin (58 fmol/mouse), blockers of calcium-gated potassium channels, significantly blocked calcium (i.t.). The antinociceptive effects of calcium (i.t.) were also blocked by verapamil (30 and 60 nmol/mouse), theophylline (275 nmol/mouse) and substance P (7.4 nmol/mouse, i.t.). Thus, the data indicate that the mechanism underlying the antinociceptive effect of calcium (i.t.) involves mediation, at least in part, by opioid peptides, alterations in intraneuronal cyclic AMP and/or neuronal hyperpolarization, and decreased release of substance P. The administration of calcium (i.t.) may also enhance the release of adenosine as a significant factor in the antinociceptive effects of the calcium.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Stereoselective effect of morphine on antinociception and endogenous opioid peptide levels in plasma but not cerebrospinal fluid of dogs.

Morphine releases endogenous opioids into the circulation of dogs. To test the stereospecificity of this effect, as well as to determine whether morphine also releases endogenous opioids centrally, which might be involved in its antinociceptive action, the effects of (-)-morphine sulfate (10 mg/kg, sc) or (+)-morphine hydrobromide on antinociception in a dog tail-flick test, on semi-quantified morphine-induced signs of salivation, emesis, defecation and ataxia, and on the plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of endogenous opioid peptides were studied. Plasma and CSF levels of immunoreactive beta-endorphin (i-BE), met-enkephalin (i-ME), leu-enkephalin (i-LE), and dynorphin (i-DY) were quantified by radioimmunoassay in octadecylsilyl-silica cartridge extracts. Immunoreactive morphine (i-M) levels were measured in unextracted samples. (-)-Morphine treatment significantly increased antinociception, morphine-induced signs, i-M levels in plasma and CSF, and i-BE, i-ME, and i-LE levels in plasma, but not CSF. Levels of i-DY remained constant in plasma and CSF. (+)-Morphine treatment did not alter any of these parameters, indicating that the effects of morphine on nociception, behavioral signs, and plasma endogenous opioids in dogs were stereoselective. It is concluded that morphine does not cause an increase in immunoreactive endogenous opioid peptides in the CSF at the time of its peak antinociceptive effect.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Antagonism of the morphine-induced locomotor activation of mice by fructose: comparison with other opiates and sugars, and sugar effects on brain morphine.

The mouse locomotor activation test of opiate action in a 2+2 dose parallel line assay was used in a repeated testing paradigm to determine the test, opiate and hexose specificities of a previously reported antagonism of morphine-induced antinocociception by hyperglycemia. In opiate specificity studies, fructose (5 g/kg, i.p.) significantly reduced the potency ratio for morphine and methadone, but not for levorphanol, meperidine or phenazocine when intragroup comparisons were made. In intergroup comparisons, fructose significantly reduced the potencies of levorphanol and phenazocine, but not methadone or meperidine. In hexose/polyol specificity studies, tagatose and fructose significantly reduced the potency ratio for morphine, whereas glucose, galactose, mannose and the polyols, sorbitol and xylitol, caused no significant decrease in potency. Fructose, tagatose, glucose and mannose (5 g/kg, i.p.) were tested for effects on brain morphine levels 30 min after morphine (60 min after sugar), and all four sugars significantly increased brain morphine relative to saline-pretreated controls. It is concluded that the antagonism of morphine by acute sugar administration shows specificity for certain sugars and occurs despite sugar-induced increases in the distribution of morphine to the brain. Furthermore, the effects of fructose show an opiate specificity similar to that of glucose on antinociception observed previously in our laboratory, except that methadone was also significantly inhibited in the present study, when a repeated-testing experimental design was used.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Effects of hyperbaric simulation of scuba diving pressure on plasma beta-endorphin.

In contrast to our previous studies on the submersion of scuba divers in a state of neutral buoyancy, neither plasma beta-endorphin-like immunoreactivity (beta-EIR) nor affective feelings were significantly changes in scuba divers by mimicking diving pressures of 2 feet (0.6 m) and 50 feet (15.2 m) for 20 min in a hyperbaric chamber. It is concluded that the submersion-induced increase in plasma beta-EIR and accompanying changes in affect reported previously are not due solely to changes in pressure.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Effects of diving experience on submersion-induced increases in plasma levels of beta-endorphin in scuba divers.

The submersion of eight male scuba divers in a state of neutral buoyancy for 20 min resulted in a significant increase (mean, 20%) in plasma beta-endorphin immunoreactivity (beta-EIR), and all subjects reported post-submersion feelings of well-being, relaxation or euphoria. The increase in beta-EIR was negatively correlated with age (r = -0.727) and diving experience (r = -0.860), and positively correlated with the amount of air usage during submersion (r = 0.863). Thus, diving experience appears to influence many of the nonsubjective parameters measured.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

An insulin-independent mechanism of intrathecal morphine-induced hypoglycemia in mice: mediation through a central alpha-2 adrenergic pathway.

Studies on the mechanism of the hypoglycemia caused by the i.t. administration of morphine (40 micrograms) to nonfasted, unanesthetized mice included assessment of effects of i.t. morphine on circulating levels of immunoreactive insulin and glucagon, on body temperature, as well as testing the effects of i.p. pretreatment with antagonists of cholinergic, beta adrenergic, alpha-1 adrenergic, alpha-2 adrenergic, serotonergic and opioid receptors. Serum levels of insulin were not significantly affected at 30 and 60 min after i.t. morphine, but plasma glucagon levels were significantly increased at both time points. Rectal temperature decreased significantly in mice given either saline or morphine i.t., but there was no significant difference between the two groups over time. Atropine (2 mg/kg), propranolol (10 mg/kg), prazosin (2 mg/kg) and methysergide (2 mg/kg) did not affect morphine-induced hypoglycemia. Naloxone (20 mg/kg) antagonized i.t. morphine. Mecamylamine (2 mg/kg) produced a moderate hypoglycemia in control mice, which appeared to be additive to that caused by i.t. morphine. Yohimbine (1-4 mg/kg i.p.) also produced a moderate hypoglycemia in control mice, but caused a dose-related antagonism of i.t. morphine. The centrally active alpha-2 antagonist, L-657,743 (2S-trans)-1,3,4,5',6,6',7,12b-octahydro-1',3'-dimethylspiro -(2H-benzofuro- (2,3-a)quinolizine-2,4'(1'H)pyrimidin)-2-(3'H)-one hydrochloride) (4-20 mg/kg i.p.), but not the peripherally selective alpha-2 antagonist, L-659,066 (2R-trans)-N-(2-(1,3,4,6,7,12b-he xahydro-2'- oxospiro(2H-benzofuro(2,3-a) quinolizine-2,4-imidazolidin)-3'-yl)ethyl)methanesulfonamide hydrochloride) (4-20 mg/kg i.p.), caused a dose-related antagonism of i.t. morphine. The i.t. coadministration of yohimbine (2 or 10 micrograms) or L-659,066 (10 micrograms) with morphine exhibited no antagonism.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists↗
PubMed1990

Naltrexone therapy of apnea in children with elevated cerebrospinal fluid beta-endorphin.

Previous studies have indicated increased immunoreactivity of the endogenous opioid peptide beta-endorphin in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of infants under 2 years of age with apnea. To assess the role of endogenous opioids in the pathogenesis of apnea in children, the effect of oral treatment with the opioid antagonist naltrexone was studied in apneic infants, as well as in older apneic children, with demonstrated increases in CSF immunoreactive beta-endorphin (i-BE). In the 8 apneic infants with elevated i-BE in lumbar CSF (range, 55-155 pg/ml; normal, 17-52 pg/ml), no further apnea occurred during naltrexone therapy (1 mg/kg/day, by mouth). Five children (2-8 years old) with apnea of unknown cause had elevated CSF i-BE (range, 74-276 pg/ml) compared to 6 age-matched nonapneic children (range, 15-48 pg/ml). No apneic events occurred during naltrexone therapy, except in 1 child during stressful events, but apnea recurred in some patients after attempts to discontinue naltrexone treatment. Adverse effects of naltrexone included complaints of headaches in 2 children and symptoms of a narcotic withdrawal syndrome during the first 3 days of treatment in 1 child. Three children with Leigh's syndrome had elevated CSF i-BE (range, 104-291 pg/ml) and their apnea also responded to naltrexone. We conclude that elevated endogenous opioids contribute to the pathogenesis of apnea in children and may even result in physical dependence.

Child↗
PubMed1990

Further studies on the antinociceptive effects of delta 6-THC-7-oic acid.

The antinociceptive effects of delta 6-THC-7-oic (THC-7-oic) acid have been investigated further with particular regard to the influence of certain experimental parameters in the hot plate test. These included the degree of the thermal stimulus, the nature of the vehicle and a possible role for copper in the response. A temperature effect similar to that seen with nonsteroidalantiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) was observed, 55 degrees produced observable antinociception, however, at a surface temperature of 58 degrees C no drug effect was seen. Non-aqeous vehicles such as peanut oil increased the potency of THC-7-oic acid. Finally, the substitution of purified water for tap water reduced the drug response which could be partially restored by adding copper to the purified drinking water. An increase in the inhibitory effect when copper was added was also seen in vitro in a cell culture model where the acid reduced prostaglandin synthesis induced by THC. Our findings suggest that THC-7-oic acid probably acts by mechanisms similar to the NSAIDs and that the above mentioned experimental conditions can greatly influence the outcome of studies with this agent.

Analgesics↗
PubMed1990

Beta-endorphin in cerebrospinal fluid and serum after severe head injury.

Endogenous opioids have been implicated as a cause of secondary damage after neural injury. The basis for this statement is primarily indirect evidence from studies that demonstrate neurological or physiological improvement when opiate antagonists are given. This study directly evaluates the level of the endogenous opioid beta-endorphin in 15 patients with severe head injury. Levels of immunoreactive beta-endorphin (ir-beta E) from ventricular cerebrospinal fluid (vCSF) and serum were determined less than 24 hours after trauma. No significant correlation was found with the degree of initial injury, age, sex, or either 6- or 12-month outcome. Levels of ir-beta E from vCSF were significantly lower in patients who had received intravenous administration of morphine sulfate (48.4 +/- 5.8 versus 85.9 +/- 10.1 pg/ml, P = 0.008). No correlation was found between vCSF levels of ir-beta E and elapsed time after injury. Although vCSF and serum ir-beta E were correlated (r = 0.532, P = 0.050), the latter exhibited a different profile; the mean level of serum ir-beta E was not significantly different in those patients who received morphine, and serum ir-beta E had a significant negative correlation with time after injury (r = -0.587, P = 0.03). These results do not support a relationship between acute levels of vCSF or serum ir-beta E and the degree of neurological injury or outcome after severe head trauma. This article, therefore, is a contribution to the body of literature in which the purported detrimental effect of beta-endorphin was not demonstrated.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Cannabis dependence and tolerance production.

The chronic abuse of many drugs produces both marked tolerance and physical dependence. Marked tolerance to cannabis has been observed in experimental animals and humans. However, reports of physical dependence, as characterized by significant withdrawal symptomatology upon cessation of chronic cannabis exposure, has not been well established or clearly defined in any species. The abuse potential of cannabis is more readily observed in humans than in experimental animal investigations. This may be due to the physiochemical characteristics of cannabis or delta 9-THC, which complicates this type of animal experimentation. It is more likely that the greatest dangers of cannabis abuse involve the pharmacological effects of the drug upon the central nervous system and other organs, rather than the development of dependence.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

The activity of several peptide fragments of parathyroid hormone, alone and in combination with salmon calcitonin and morphine, in antinociceptive tests in the mouse.

Fragments of the parathyroid hormone (PTH) molecule were investigated for intrinsic antinociceptive effects and modulation of salmon calcitonin- and morphine-induced antinociception. Intraventricularly administered PTH 1-34 produced naloxone-insensitive antinociception in both the tail-flick and hot-plate tests. PTH 1-34 antinociceptive effects in the tail-flick test were blocked by i.c.v. salmon calcitonin (sCT, 2 micrograms) and i.c.v. calcium chloride (0.12 mumol). [tyrosine-34]b-PTH (7-34)NH2, the PTH antagonist, did not block PTH 1-34-induced antinociception. PTH 1-34 (2 micrograms) was additive with antinociceptive doses of sCT, but not morphine, in the hot-plate test. PTH 44-68 (0.3 micrograms/mouse, icv.) produced hyperalgesic effects 30 min after administration using the hot-plate test. PTH 44-68 (2 micrograms/mouse) attenuated sCT-induced but not morphine-induced antinociception in both the hot-plate and tail-flick tests. PTH 64-84 was inactive in all tests, alone or in combination with sCT or morphine. Due to the low efficacy of PTH 1-34 and 44-68 in antinociceptive tests, these PTH fragments may act as modulators of antinociception rather than directly producing antinociceptive or hyperalgesic effects. In addition, the results indicate that sCT and the PTH fragments 1-34 and 44-68 may interact in the modulation of nonopiate antinociception, possibly via opposing actions on calcium in the brain.

Analgesics↗
PubMed1990

Hypoglycemia induced by intrathecal opioids in mice: stereospecificity, drug specificity and effect of fasting.

The specificity of the hypoglycemic response to the intrathecal (i.t.) administration of the naturally occurring (-)-enantiomer of morphine previously reported from our laboratory was studied in mice. (+)-Morphine HBr (50 micrograms) caused a behavioral syndrome (scratching, biting, seizures) comparable to that produced by (-)-morphine sulfate (50 micrograms), but did not cause hypoglycemia. Many opioids, at a dose of 50 micrograms i.t. in nonfasted mice, showed either a saline-like hyperglycemic response or no significant effect on blood glucose. (+)-Morphine, ketocyclazocine, U-50,488, (-)- and (+)-N-allyl-normetazocine, beta-endorphin, (-)- and (+)-naloxone and naltrexone caused hyperglycemia. Significant changes from basal blood glucose were not produced by [D-Pen2, L-Pen5]-enkephalin, [D-Ser2]-Leu-enkephalin-Thr or sufentanil in 50-micrograms doses, or by codeine (300 micrograms), levorphanol (400 micrograms) or methadone (200-400 micrograms). Agonists which produced both hypoglycemic and behavioral effects were, in order of decreasing potency, hydromorphone greater than normorphine greater than morphine greater than 6-acetylmorphine greater than oxymorphone much greater than heroin. Morphine-induced hypoglycemia was partially antagonized by the i.t. coadministration of naloxone methobromide (10 micrograms). Fasting for 24 hr increased the sensitivity to hypoglycemic and lethal effects of morphine. D-Ala2-N-Me-Phe4-Gly5-ol]-enkephalin (5-50 micrograms i.t.) tended to decrease blood glucose in both nonfasted and fasted mice, but these effects were moderate and appeared to be unrelated to dose.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Possible hyperendorphinergic pathophysiology of the Rett syndrome.

The Rett syndrome is a postnatal developmental and neurological disorder seen only in girls. Many of the symptoms of this disorder, such as microcephaly, stereotypy, respiratory disturbances and seizures, are analogous to the effects of the administration of beta-endorphin or other opioids in animals. Preliminary reports of elevated beta-endorphin-like immunoreactivity in the cerebrospinal fluid of girls with the Rett syndrome, as well as improvement in some of their symptoms during the administration of the opioid antagonist naltrexone, are suggestive of endorphinergic hyperactivity. Thus, the pathophysiology of the Rett syndrome might involve excessive stimulation of opioid receptors in the central nervous system by beta-endorphin or other endogenous opioids.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Comparison of the effects of diisopropylfluorophosphate, sarin, soman, and tabun on toxicity and brain acetylcholinesterase activity in mice.

The LD50s and ED50s for inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in whole mouse brain by DFP (diisopropylfluorophosphate), sarin (methylphosphonofluoridic acid 1-methyl ethyl ester), soman (methylphosphonofluoridic acid 1,2,2-trimethyl propyl ester), and tabun (dimethylphosphoramidocyanidic acid ethyl ester) were compared after iv administration. The LD50s of DFP, sarin, soman, and tabun in ICR (Institute for Cancer Research) mice were 3.40, 0.109, 0.042, and 0.287 mg/kg, respectively. The recovery of AChE activity in whole mouse brain after sub-LD50 doses of these agents was slow and did not reach control values by 14 d after iv administration. AChE activity was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner in whole mouse brain, as well as in six brain regions (cortex, hippocampus, striatum, midbrain, medulla-pons, and cerebellum). None of these brain areas appeared to be particularly sensitive to AChE inhibition. The ED50s for DFP, sarin, soman, and tabun for inhibition of AChE in whole mouse brain were approximately 19, 38, 69, and 66% of their respective LD50s. Because of the differential potencies between lethality and inhibition of AChE, it is concluded that the lethality of these agents is due to more factors than simply the inhibition of AChE within the brain.

Acetylcholinesterase↗
PubMed1989

The antinociception produced by intrathecal morphine, calcium, A23187, U50,488H, [D-Ala2, N-Me-Phe4, Gly-ol]enkephalin and [D-Pen2, D-Pen5]enkephalin after intrathecal administration of calcitonin gene-related peptide in mice.

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), which has been shown to modulate calcium in both the brain and in peripheral tissues, has not previously been shown to modulate calcium in the spinal cord. This study shows that the effects of CGRP given intrathecally (i.t.) appear to result from calcium modulation. Evidence for this hypothesis is the parallel shift to the right in the dose-effect curves of both i.t. calcium and i.t. A23187 (a calcium ionophore) by i.t. CGRP, and the enhancement by ethylene glycol bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N'-tetraacetic acid of the ability of CGRP to antagonize morphine-induced antinociception. The CGRP-induced modulation of spinal calcium appears to occur in opiate-sensitive pathways as well as nonopioid pathways, as evidenced by parallel shifts to the right in the dose-response curves of i.c.v. and i.t. morphine in either the tail-flick or the hot-plate test and nonparallel shifts in the dose-response curve of s.c. morphine in the tail-flick test. CGRP attenuates the antinociceptive effect of the delta receptor-specific ligand [D-Pen2, D-Pen5]enkephalin (i.t.), but enhances the antinociceptive effect of the kappa ligand, U50, 488H. CGRP does not appear to interact directly with the opiate receptor because it does not mimic the activity of naloxone i.t. However, CGRP-induced alterations of calcium in opiate-sensitive spinal pathways appear to produce subtle modulation of opiate antinociception without direct opiate receptor interaction.

3,4-Dichloro-N-methyl-N-(2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-cycloh↗