Vol. 289, Issue 2, 859-867, May 1999

Enhancement of µ Opioid Antinociception by Oral ⁹-Tetrahydrocannabinol: Dose-Response Analysis and Receptor Identification¹

Diana L. Cichewicz, Zachary L. Martin, Forrest L. Smith and Sandra P. Welch

Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Virginia/Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia

The antinociceptive effects of various µ opioids given p.o. alone and in combination with -9-tetrahydrocannabinol (⁹-THC) were evaluated using the tail-flick test. Morphine preceded by ⁹-THC treatment (20 mg/kg) was significantly more potent than morphine alone, with an ED₅₀ shift from 28.8 to 13.1 mg/kg. Codeine showed the greatest shift in ED₅₀ value when administered after ⁹-THC (139.9 to 5.9 mg/kg). The dose-response curves for oxymorphone and hydromorphone were shifted 5- and 12.6-fold, respectively. Methadone was enhanced 4-fold, whereas its derivative, l--acetylmethadol, was enhanced 3-fold. The potency ratios after pretreatment with ⁹-THC for heroin and meperidine indicated significant enhancement (4.1 and 8.9, respectively). Pentazocine did not show a parallel shift in its dose-response curve with ⁹-THC. Naloxone administration (1 mg/kg s.c.) completely blocked the antinociceptive effects of morphine p.o. and codeine p.o. The ⁹-THC-induced enhancement of morphine and codeine was also significantly decreased by naloxone administration. Naltrindole (2 mg/kg s.c.) did not affect morphine or codeine antinociception but did block the enhancement of these two opioids by ⁹-THC. No effect was seen when nor-binaltorphimine was administered 2 mg/kg s.c. before morphine or codeine. Furthermore, the enhancements of morphine and codeine were not blocked by nor-binaltorphimine. We find that many µ opioids are enhanced by an inactive dose of ⁹-THC p.o. The exact nature of this enhancement is unknown. We show evidence of involvement of µ and possibly  opioid receptors as a portion of this signaling pathway that leads to a decrease in pain perception.