Abstract
An injection of the excitatory amino acid analogue, N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), in the rat periaqueductal gray resulted in potent analgesia. A prior injection of the NMDA antagonist, (-)-2-amino-7-phosphonoheptanoate (D-AP7), antagonized this action, indicating a receptor-mediated action. NMDA given with morphine potentiated the morphine analgesia while D-AP7 blocked morphine analgesia. These results delineate for the first time a functional role for the NMDA receptor in the control of pain in the mammalian central nervous system.
MeSH terms
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2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate* / analogs & derivatives*
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Amino Acids / pharmacology
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Analgesia
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Animals
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Aspartic Acid / analogs & derivatives
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Aspartic Acid / pharmacology
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Kainic Acid / pharmacology
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Male
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Morphine / pharmacology
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N-Methylaspartate
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Oxadiazoles / pharmacology
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Pain / physiopathology*
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Periaqueductal Gray / drug effects
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Periaqueductal Gray / physiopathology*
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Quisqualic Acid
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Rats
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Rats, Inbred Strains
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Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate
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Receptors, Neurotransmitter / physiology*
Substances
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Amino Acids
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Oxadiazoles
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Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate
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Receptors, Neurotransmitter
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Aspartic Acid
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N-Methylaspartate
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2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate
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Morphine
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Quisqualic Acid
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2-amino-7-phosphonoheptanoic acid
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Kainic Acid