Effects of URB597, an inhibitor of fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), on analgesic activity of paracetamol.

Objectives: Paracetamol is converted to an active metabolite AM404 via fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH). The aim of the present study was to ascertain whether a FAAH inhibitor URB597 antagonizes paracetamol analgesic activity (and to asses by this way the role of FAAH in analgesic activity of paracetamol).

Methods: The interaction between a FAAH inhibitor URB597 and paracetamol was investigated in the writhing test in mice using an isobolographic analysis.

TRPV1 channels control synaptic plasticity in the developing superior colliculus.

Long-term depression (LTD) in the rodent superior colliculus (SC) is regarded as a model of synaptic refinement because it can be induced during development but not in adults. We investigated the role of transient receptor potential vanilloid type-1 (TRPV1) channels in this type of synaptic plasticity. Experiments were carried out in pigmented mice aged between postnatal day 8 (P8) and 42 (P42) and in adult mice.