The paragigantocellularis (PGi) nucleus constitutes a large portion of the ventral pontomedullary reticular formation. Neurons within the PGi have been implicated in a variety of functions including cardiovascular regulation, respiratory control, pain and analgesia. Investigators have demonstrated that electrical stimulation and microinjection of L-glutamate into the PGi produce antinocicepti...

BACKGROUND Annona vepretorum Mart. (Annonaceae) is a native tree from Caatinga (Brazilian Northeastern savanna biome), popularly known as "araticum" and "pinha da Caatinga". In this study, we investigated the effects of the crude ethanolic extract (Av-EtOH) in models of pain and inflammation in rodents. METHODS The evaluation of antinociceptive activity was carried out by the acetic acid-indu...

Opioids, when co-administered with L-type calcium channel blockers (L-CCBs) show morphine like higher antinociceptive effect. This antinociceptive effect has been further investigated using a different experimental paradigm. The effect of two different L-CCBs (nifedipine and nimodipine) on morphine-induced antinociception was studied by the tail-flick test (40 min after morphine administration)...

2'-Fluoro-3-(substituted pyridine)epibatidine analogues 7a-e and 8a-e were synthesized, and their in vitro and in vivo nAChR properties were determined. 2'-Fluoro-3'-(4″-pyridinyl)deschloroepibatidine (7a) and 2'-fluoro-3'-(3″-pyridinyl)deschloroepibatidine (8a) were synthesized as bioisosteres of the 4'-nitrophenyl lead compounds 5a and 5g. Comparison of the in vitro nAChR properties of 7a and...

Two animal models of pain were used to study the effects of short-term protein malnutrition and environmental stimulation on the response threshold to aversive stimuli. Eighty male Wistar rats were used. Half of the pups were submitted to malnutrition by feeding their mothers a 6% protein diet from 0 to 21 days of age while the mothers of the other half (controls) were well nourished, receiving...

Swertia chirata, a Gentian species, can be traced through the medicinal history as a nontoxic and safe ethnomedicinal herb and has been mentioned in medical papyri to expel fever, relieve headache, to draw out inflammation and to stimulate CNS. The ethanolic root extract of Swertia chirata was chosen for pharmacological screening and analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities in animal models. ...

The synthesis and the biological and pharmacological evaluation of several 14-phenylpropoxy analogues of 14-methoxymetopon are described. Most of the new compounds were nonselective and exhibited binding affinities in the subnanomolar or low nanomolar range at opioid receptors mu, kappa, delta), with 14-phenylpropoxymetopon (PPOM; 7) displaying the highest affinity for all three opioid receptor...

The antinociceptive effect of Elaeagnus angustifolia fruits was studied in mice. The antinociceptive effect of ethanolic and boiling water extracts was studied using two thermal stimuli, the hot-plate and tail-flick tests. The intraperitoneal and oral administration of the ethanolic extract of seed 0.75-7.00 g/kg), but not pericarp and medulla had significant antinociceptive activity in the...

OBJECTIVES The aim of the study was to describe the effect of motor cortex stimulation (MCS) on pain thresholds in deafferentated rats. SETTINGS AND DESIGN The effect of MCS was studied in 18 deafferentated and 14 intact laboratory rats, using a standardised plantar test and tail-flick latencies. Two inoxious stimulation electrodes were implanted subdurally over the cerebral cortex and a C5-T...