Korean J Physiol Pharmacol.  2002 Oct;6(5):241-246.

Involvement of NMDA Receptor and L-type Calcium Channel in the Excitatory Action of Morphine

• Koo BS
• Shin HK
• Kang SH
• Jun JH

Abstract

We studied the excitatory action of morphine on the responses of dorsal horn neuron to iontophoretic application of excitatory amino acid and C-fiber stimulation by using the in vivo electrophysiological technique in the rat. In 137 of the 232 wide dynamic range (WDR) neurons tested, iontophoretic application of morphine enhanced the WDR neuron responses to N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), kainate, and graded electrical stimulation of C-fibers. Morphine did not have any excitatory effects on the responses of low threshold cells. Morphine-induced excitatory effect at low ejection current was naloxone-reversible and reversed to an inhibitory action at high ejection current. NMDA receptor, calcium channel and intracellular Ca2+ antagonists strongly antagonized the morphine-induced excitatory effect. These results suggest that changes in intracellular ionic concentration, especially Ca2+, play an important role in the induction of excitatory effect of morphine in the rat dorsal horn neurons.

Keyword

Dorsal horn neuron; Morphine; Excitatory action; NMDA receptor; Calcium channel

MeSH Terms

Animals
Calcium Channels
Calcium Channels, L-Type*
Electric Stimulation
Excitatory Amino Acids
Kainic Acid
Morphine*
N-Methylaspartate*
Neurons
Posterior Horn Cells
Rats
Calcium Channels
Calcium Channels, L-Type
Excitatory Amino Acids
Kainic Acid
Morphine
N-Methylaspartate