U-50,488, a selective kappa opioid agonist: comparison to other reputed kappa agonists.

1. U-50,488 is a structurally novel, non-mu opioid. In the present experiments it was compared to the reputed kappa opioid agonists, ketazocine, ethylketocyclazocine and bremazocine as regards analgesic cross tolerance to morphine and U-50,488, antagonism of analgesia by naloxone and MR-2266 (in vivo pA2 determination), and narcotic antagonist properties (antagonism of morphine analgesia and precipitation of abstinence in morphine-dependent mice). 2. The analgesic mechanism of bremazocine was similar to that of U-50,488 but the former compound had, in addition, considerable mu-antagonist activity. The analgesic mechanisms of the ketazocines were less selective; both shared both mu and kappa agonist properties. U-50, 488, however, had no such mu agonist or antagonist effects and thus is a more selective kappa agonist. 3. This compound and its congeners may prove useful in the elucidation of the functions of kappa receptors in the central nervous system.