UI - 000072

AU - Ansuategui M

AU - Naharro L

AU - Feria M

TI - Noradrenergic and opioidergic influences on the antinociceptive effect of clomipramine in the

formalin test in rats

AB - Although tricyclic antidepressants are especially useful in the treatment of chronic pain conditions,

most of the work about its mechanism of action has been made on acute pain tests. The present study was

aimed at studying the role played by noradrenergic and opioidergic influences on the antinociceptive activity

of subchronically administered clomipramine in the formalin test (a tonic pain model) in rats. Clomipramine

produced antinociception after 7 days, administration (2.5 mg/kg/day), an effect equivalent to that obtained

by acute morphine (5 mg/kg). The antinociceptive effect of clomipramine was inhibited by the following:

nonspecific blocking of alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenoceptors by phentolamine, specific blocking of alpha 1-

adrenoceptors by prazosin; stimulation of alpha 2 receptors by clonidine; and blocking of the opioid

receptors by naloxone. Blocking the alpha 2-receptors with yohimbine did not antagonize the effect of

clomipramine. These results suggest that clomipramine produces antinociception in this test, partly via the

participation of the endogenous opioid system and partly by further activating or potentiating previously

activated noradrenergic pathways which are involved in the control of pain information

SO - Psychopharmacology 1989;98:93-9