Analgesic effect of the direct D2 dopamine receptor agonist RU 24926 and cross tolerance with morphine.

The direct D2 dopamine receptor agonist RU 24926, administered subcutaneously to mice, elicited, starting at the dose of 0.125 mg/kg, a dose dependent analgesic effect, assessed as the jump latency from a hot plate (55 degrees C). The analgesic effect induced by 0.25 mg/kg RU 24926 was dose dependently antagonized by the preferential D2 dopamine receptor antagonist haloperidol (ID50 = 15.1 +/- 3.3 micrograms/kg sc) as well as by the opioid receptor antagonist naloxone (ID50 = 0.59 +/- 0.17 mg/kg sc). The reversion of RU 24926-induced analgesia by naloxone was not accompanied by a reversion of hypothermia. Semi-chronic administration of RU 24926 (2.5 mg/kg, sc, 3 times a day for 3 days) completely desensitized to the analgesic effect induced by a 0.25 mg/kg test dose of RU 24926 and partially reduced the analgesic effect of low doses of morphine (0.5, 1, 1.5 mg/kg). Conversely, semi-chronic administration of morphine (32 mg/kg sc, twice daily for 4 days) completely desensitized the analgesic effect induced by a 2 mg/kg test dose of morphine and partially reduced the analgesic effect of RU 24926 (0.25, 0.5 and 1 mg/kg).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)