Baclofen analgesia in mice: a GABAB-mediated response.

The effect of baclofen, a GABAB agonist, has been studied in three antinociceptive tests (tail flick latency, hot plate method and acetic acid-induced writhing) in mice. In all three models, baclofen was found to elicit a dose-dependent antinociceptive effect. The observed antinociceptive effect was stereospecific, as the levo isomer of baclofen was found to be more potent than the racemic mixture. Baclofen also potentiated morphine analgesia. The antinociceptive effect of baclofen was reversed by both CGP 35348, a GABAB antagonist, and naloxone, an opioid antagonist, but not by bicuculline or picrotoxin, GABAA antagonists. However, in acetic acid-induced writhing, naloxone failed to reverse baclofen analgesia. The data suggest that the antinociceptive effect of baclofen is GABAB receptor-mediated and that there may be a GABAergic and opiate/or non-opiate interaction in eliciting the analgesic effect.