Elsevier

Brain Research

Volume 273, Issue 2, 29 August 1983, Pages 297-305
Brain Research

Morphine-induced analgesia and explosive motor behavior in an amphibian

https://doi.org/10.1016/0006-8993(83)90854-5Get rights and content

Abstract

Morphine sulfate is a weak analgesic in the frogRana pipiens pipiens, causing a slight increase in nociceptive threshold at a dose of 10 mg/kg and a pronounced increase at 100 mg/kg. Morphine-induced analgesiapersists for at least 165 min and is significantly attenuated by naloxone. The analgesic doses of morphine are well below the lethal dose and are without noticeable effect on the behavior of the frogs or their responses to non-painful stimuli. Higher doses of morphine (320 and 640 mg/kg) induced a state of hyper-responsiveness to sensory stimuli similar to the explosive motor behavior induced in rats by microinjection of morphine into the periaqueductal gray.

Reference (40)

  • VidalC. et al.

    The effect of pituitary removal on pain regulation in the rat

    Brain Research

    (1982)
  • WoolfC.J.

    Analgesia and hyperalgesia produced in the rat by intrathecal naloxone

    Brain Research

    (1980)
  • YamashiroD. et al.

    [d-Thr2, Thz5]- and [d-Met2, Thz5]-Enkephalinamides: potent analgesics by intravenous injection

    Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun.

    (1977)
  • AkilH. et al.

    Apperance of β-endorphin-like immunoreactivity in human ventricular cerebrospinal fluid upon analgesic electrical stimulation

  • AkilH. et al.

    Enkephalin-like material elevated in ventricular cerebrospinal fluid of pain patients after analgetic focal stimulation

    Science

    (1978)
  • AmirS. et al.

    Endogenous opioid ligands may mediate stress-induced changes in the affective properties of pain related behavior in rats

    Life Sci.

    (1978)
  • BollesR.C. et al.

    Endorphins and behavior

    Ann. Rev. Psychol.

    (1982)
  • GrauJ.W. et al.

    Long-term stress-induced analgesia and activation of the opiate system

    Science

    (1981)
  • HosobuchiY. et al.

    Stimulation of human periaqueductal gray for pain relief increases immunoreactive β-endorphin in ventricular fluid

    Science

    (1979)
  • HughesJ. et al.

    Identification of two related pentapeptides from the brain with potent opiate agonist activity

    Nature (Lond.)

    (1975)
  • Cited by (62)

    • Animal models of pain: Diversity and benefits

      2021, Journal of Neuroscience Methods
      Citation Excerpt :

      However, new heat avoidance assays rely on other behavior responses such as crossing a thermal barrier or distance travelled on heated assay plate (Glauser et al., 2011; Nkambeu et al., 2019). Xenopus nociceptive response to the application of acetic acid test (AAT) drops of dilute acetic drops (5%) to the hindlimb, a pain model developed by Pezalla in 1983 (Pezalla, 1983), is called “wipping response”. In zebrafish, nociception has been assessed by changes in behavior, such as reduction of activity, swimming distance and space use, physiological changes (opercular beat rate) or more recently by abdominal constriction like response (Costa et al., 2019; Sneddon, 2019).

    • Nest site selection in a terrestrial breeding frog: interrelationships between nest moisture, pH and male advertisement

      2020, Animal Behaviour
      Citation Excerpt :

      However, soil acidity is unlikely to be entirely dependent on soil moisture because several other factors, including rates of plant growth, root respiration and decomposition of organic material, can also influence the pH of soils (Ritchie & Dolling, 1985; Yan, Schubert, & Mengel, 1996). As such, there is reason to suspect that females may be directly assessing soil pH. Indeed, there is some evidence (albeit limited) that frogs can sense pH. Experimental studies with northern grass frogs, Rana pipiens, have shown that exposure to acidic solutions stimulates nociceptors and low-threshold mechanoreceptors, inducing a vigorous skin-wiping response (Hamamoto & Simone, 2003; Pezalla, 1983). Assuming red-backed toadlets show similar responses, an aversion to extreme pH may benefit individuals considerably, either directly, by reducing the risk of physical harm, or indirectly, by protecting their offspring from challenging developmental conditions.

    • The midbrain periaqueductal gray as an integrative and interoceptive neural structure for breathing

      2019, Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews
      Citation Excerpt :

      The PAG constitutes a specific portion of the ventricular gray matter. It surrounds the mesencephalic aqueduct and is markedly phylogenetically conserved across the vertebrate species, from the lamprey fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, right through to mammals (Pezalla, 1983; Ten Donkelaar and de Boer-van Huizen, 1987; Fiebig, 1988; Kittelberger et al., 2006; Olson et al., 2017). In mammals, the PAG comprises a relatively large group of neurons (Liu and Hamilton, 1980; Behbehani, 1995) extending from the level of the posterior commissure rostrally, to the caudal inferior colliculi.

    • Neuroimaging of the periaqueductal gray: State of the field

      2012, NeuroImage
      Citation Excerpt :

      The periaqueductal gray (PAG) (a.k.a. central gray or substantia grisea centralis) is conserved across vertebrate species (cartilaginous and bony fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals, and probably also in jawless fish (Fiebig, 1988; Kingsbury et al., 2011; Kittelberger et al., 2006; Pezalla, 1983; Stephenson-Jones et al., 2011; ten Donkelaar and de Boer-van Huizen, 1987).

    • Analgesia in amphibians: Preclinical studies and clinical applications

      2011, Veterinary Clinics of North America - Exotic Animal Practice
    • Tramadol use in zoologic medicine

      2011, Veterinary Clinics of North America - Exotic Animal Practice
    View all citing articles on Scopus
    View full text