Psychopharmacology

, Volume 79, Issue 2–3, pp 199–202 | Cite as

Dexamethasone and stress-induced analgesia

  • S. Mousa
  • C. H. MillerJr
  • D. Couri
Original Investigations
Received:
Accepted:

Abstract

Analgesia induced in rats by cold-water swim stress and measured by the tail-flick and hot-plate methods was significantly antagonized after IP pretreatment for 3 days with 8 mg/kg dexamethasone. The analgesia developed by the cold-water swim stressor was also attenuated by 1 mg/kg naloxone. These results suggest that the corticosteroids may have a role in modulating stress-induced analgesia and that the adrenal-pituitary axis modulates the endogenous opiate system. These conclusions are based on recent reports that indicate the release of the opiate-like peptide β-endorphin and adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) from the pituitary are increased by acute stress and inhibited by administration of the synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone.

Key words

Dexamethasone Pain Stress-induced analgesia Naloxone 
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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag 1983

Authors and Affiliations

  • S. Mousa
    • 1
  • C. H. MillerJr
    • 1
  • D. Couri
    • 1
  1. 1.College of Medicine, Department of PharmacologyOhio State UniversityColumbusUSA

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