A comparison of the analgesic activities of 4,5,6,7-tetrahydroisoxazolo[5,4-c]pyridin-3-ol (THIP) and 6-chloro-2[1-piperazinyl]pyrazine (MK 212)

Both the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) mimetic, THIP (4,5,6,7-tetrahydroisoxazolo[5,4-c]pyridin-3-ol and the serotonergic agonist, MK 212 (6-chloro-2[1-piperazinyl]pyrazine) are effective analgesic agents in the mouse hot plate assay. Naltrexone, however, fails to reverse the analgesia elicited by either compound. Acute injection of THIP potentiates the morphine analgesia and chronic administration of THIP produces a functional tolerance to its analgesic effects. MK 212 antagonizes the analgesia induced by either morphine or THIP. These results support the postulate that GABAergic and serotonergic synapses represent two synaptic mechanisms which participate in the modulation of pain threshold in a manner that is independent from opioid receptors. Moreover, GABA and serotonin appear to be able to modulate opioid-mediated analgesia in an opposing manner with GABAergic mechanisms facilitating and serotonergic mechanisms inhibiting morphine-induced antinociception.