Long-lasting antinociceptive effect of RC-160, a somatostatin analog, in mice and rats.

The effect of RC-160 (D-Phe-Cys-Tyr-D-Trp-Lys-Val-Cys-Trp-NH2) was studied in mice by means of the hot plate test and in rats with the tail flick test. In mice, 512 micrograms/kg (s.c.) induced an antinociceptive effect maximal (+88 +/- 17%) at the 6th hour after injection but still significant at the 24th hour; 16 micrograms/kg (s.c.) was active for 3 h; 64, 256 and 1024 micrograms/kg were active 30 min, 3 and 24 h after injection. The effects of these last three doses were not different. The antinociceptive action was as high at 24 h as at 3 h (e.g. for 512 micrograms/kg, 44 +/- 9% and 51 +/- 12%, respectively); 48 h after injection the scores of the treated groups were not different from the score for saline treatment in the tail flick test, 512 micrograms/kg induced a significant antinociceptive effect for 12 h (maximal at the 3rd hour: +60%). No behavioral changes, and particularly no motor activity modifications were observed.