[D-Pen2, D-Pen5]enkephalin, the standard delta opioid agonist, induces morphine-like behaviors in mice.

[D-Pen2, D-Pen5]enkephalin (DPDPE; 3-30 micrograms) and morphine (10 micrograms) both caused Straub tails, increased locomotion, and circling after ICV administration to ICR mice. DPDPE-induced tail stiffening was reduced when mice were pretreated with naloxone (0.5 mg/kg SC) or beta-funaltrexamine (10 micrograms ICV), but not with ICI 174864 (2 mg/kg SC), the selective antagonist at delta opioid receptors. These results point to (a) mu receptors mediating the tail stiffening and (b) the loss of delta receptor selectivity after 10 and 30 micrograms DPDPE.