Peripheral analgesia: mechanism of the analgesic action of aspirin‐like drugs and opiate‐antagonists.

Article date: April 1980

By: SH Ferreira, in Volume 10, Issue S2, pages 237S-245S

1 Prostaglandins released by tissue injury sensitize nociceptors and produce hyperalgesia. 2 Aspirin‐like drugs inhibit prostaglandins I2 and E2, synthesis, which explains their anti‐algic effect. 3 The anti‐ algic effect of aspirin‐like drugs in carrageenin‐induced rat paw inflammation may involve a central component. 4 Prostaglandin E2‐ induced hyperalgesia, once established, is not relieved by systemically administered drugs. 5 Prostaglandin‐induced hyperalgesia is possibly a cyclic adenosine, 3′,5′‐monophosphate C2+ dependent process. 6 Morphine, enkephalins, opiate antagonists and cyclic guanosine 3′,5′‐ monophosphate have a peripheral analgesic effect in the prostaglandin hyperalgesia test. 7 Morphine may produce peripheral analgesia by inhibiting adenylatecyclase activity at the nociceptors.

DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2125.1980.tb01806.x

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