Elsevier

European Journal of Pharmacology

Volume 168, Issue 2, 13 September 1989, Pages 239-242
European Journal of Pharmacology

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NMDA receptor blockade in the periaqueductal grey prevents stress-induced analgesia in attacked mice

https://doi.org/10.1016/0014-2999(89)90570-0Get rights and content

Abstract

Microinjections of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA, 0.1 and 1.0 nmol) into the periaqueductal grey (PAG) of the mouse resulted in potential antinociception. In a social conflict situation, attacked mice exhibited a marked analgesia that was prevented by prior injection of the competitive NMDA antagonist, AP-7 (2.0 nmol) or naloxone (6.0 nmol) into the PAG and also by i.p. injection of the non-competitive NMDA antagonist, MK-801 (33 nmol). These results demonstrate that NMDA receptors are involved in endogenous analgesic mechanisms activated by stress.

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