Behavioral effects of opioid subtypes compared with benzodiazepines in the staircase paradigm.

Opioid abuse is frequently associated with the abuse of benzodiazepines (BZ). Despite the fact that benzodiazepines and opioids act at totally separate receptor sites and through different biochemical and pharmacological mechanisms, they obviously interact with each other at some level. The present study was designed to investigate the behavioral effects of agents with activity on the opioid system and with the benzodiazepine receptor complex in the staircase paradigm.

The antinociceptive effect of zolpidem and zopiclone in mice.

Zolpidem and zopiclone are two of a newer hypno-sedative class of drugs, the "Z compounds". Their use for the treatment of short-term insomnia has been expanding constantly during the last two decades. The "Z compounds" are considered to cause less significant rebound insomnia or tolerance than the conventional hypnotic benzodiazepines.

The antinociceptive effect of amisulpride in mice is mediated through opioid mechanisms.

Antinociceptive effects of various neuroleptics in animal acute pain-models have been described, mediated trough different pathways including the opioid system. In this study, we assessed the antinociceptive effects of the atypical neuroleptic drug amisulpride, which acts as a selective blocker of dopamine D2 and D3 receptors. Furthermore, at low doses amisulpride has a selective preference for presynaptic dopamine autoreceptors, while at high doses it manifests a preferential action at post-synaptic dopamine receptors.

Increased hippocampal uptake of tumor necrosis factor alpha and behavioral changes in mice.

Brain trauma may alter the function of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and affect psychomotor activity. We have shown that the transport system for tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) at the BBB undergoes regulatory changes after spinal cord injury. In this study, we show in CD1 mice that mild trauma by weight-drop to the right temporal region specifically increases the uptake of blood-borne TNF alpha.

The antinociceptive effect of mirtazapine in mice is mediated through serotonergic, noradrenergic and opioid mechanisms.

The antinociceptive effects of the noradrenergic and specific serotonergic antidepressant (NaSSA) drug mirtazapine and its interaction with various opioid receptor subtypes were evaluated in mice with a hotplate analgesicmeter. Mirtazapine elicited an antinociceptive effect in a dose-dependent manner following doses from 1 to 7.5mg/kg.