Nicotine potentiates morphine antinociception: a possible cholinergic mechanism

Dopamine receptors in the anterior cingulate cortex implicate in nicotine enhanced morphine analgesia

RATIONALE

It is well known that the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) plays an important role in acute pain perception.

OBJECTIVES

In the present study, we aimed to investigate the possible involvement of the ACC dopamine D1 and D2 receptors in nicotine plus morphine-induced analgesia.

METHODS

The ACC's of adult male Wistar rats were bilaterally cannulated by stereotaxic instrument and the tail-flick test was used to measure the thermal pain threshold.

RESULTS

The results indicated that subcutaneous (s.c.) injection of nicotine (0.3 mg/kg) potentiated the analgesic response of intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of morphine (3 mg/kg). Systemic administration of the same doses of nicotine or morphine alone had no effect on tail-flick latency. Intra-ACC administration of apomorphine (0.3-0.9 μg/rat), the non-selective D1/D2 receptors agonist, plus ineffective doses of nicotine (0.1 mg/kg, s.c.) plus morphine (3 mg/kg, i.p) induced analgesia in rats. In addition, the analgesia induced with co-administration of nicotine and morphine was inhibited via intra-ACC administration of SCH23390 (0.5-1 μg/rat) or sulpiride (0.5-2 μg/rat), the selective antagonists of D1 or D2 receptors, respectively. The intra-ACC microinjection of the same doses of drugs alone had no effect on tail-flick latency. Cubic interpolation analysis also confirmed that activation or inactivation of the ACC D1 and D2 receptors by different doses of drugs can modulate the nicotine-morphine analgesic response.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings suggest that the ACC has an important role in acute thermal pain perception and modulates the analgesia induced by nicotine plus morphine via dopaminergic receptors.

The endogenous opioid system: a common substrate in drug addiction

Drug addiction is a chronic brain disorder leading to complex adaptive changes within the brain reward circuits that involve several neurotransmitters. One of the neurochemical systems that plays a pivotal role in different aspects of addiction is the endogenous opioid system (EOS). Opioid receptors and endogenous opioid peptides are largely distributed in the mesolimbic system and modulate dopaminergic activity within these reward circuits. Chronic exposure to the different prototypical drugs of abuse, including opioids, alcohol, nicotine, psychostimulants and cannabinoids has been reported to produce significant alterations within the EOS, which seem to play an important role in the development of the addictive process. In this review, we will describe the adaptive changes produced by different drugs of abuse on the EOS, and the current knowledge about the contribution of each component of this neurobiological system to their addictive properties.

The analgesic and toxic effects of nornicotine enantiomers alone and in interaction with morphine in rodent models of acute and persistent pain

Neuronal nicotinic acetylcholinic receptors (nAChR) are promising targets for the development of novel analgesics. Nicotine and other nAChR-agonists produce profound analgesia in rodent models of acute and persistent pain. However, significant side-effects are of concern. Nornicotine (N-desmethyl-nicotine) appears to activate different nAChR subtypes, has a better pharmacokinetic profile, and produces less toxicity than nicotine. Little is known about its analgesic properties. In the present study, the S(-)- and R(+)-enantiomers of nornicotine were characterized with regard to analgesia and side-effects profile. Efficacy was demonstrated in rat models of pain where central sensitization is involved: i.e. the chronic constriction nerve injury model of peripheral neuropathy and the formalin model of tonic inflammatory pain. The desirable (analgesic) properties resided predominantly in the S(-)- rather than the R(+)-enantiomer. In contrast, undesirable effects (motor in-coordination, reduced locomotor activity, ataxia) were more pronounced with the R(+)-enantiomer. This is an interesting finding, which may suggest separation of toxicity from analgesia by utilization of S(-)-enantiomer of nornicotine. Maximum analgesic effectiveness without significant side-effects was achieved when S(-)-nornicotine (sub-analgesic dose) was combined with a low-dose of the micro-opioid, morphine. These preclinical data suggest that S(-)-nornicotine may be of value, either alone or in combination with an opioid, for treatment of a broad-spectrum of pain (i.e. nociceptive, neuropathic, and mixed pain).

Involvement of dorsal hippocampal nicotinic receptors in the effect of morphine on memory retrieval in passive avoidance task

The present study evaluated the possible role of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors of the dorsal hippocampus on morphine-induced amnesia and morphine state-dependent memory in adult male Wistar rats. The animals were bilaterally implanted with chronic cannulas in the CA1 regions of the dorsal hippocampi, trained in a step-through type passive avoidance task, and tested 24 h after training to measure step-through latency. Results indicate that post-training subcutaneous (s.c.) administration of morphine (2.5-7.5 mg/kg) dose-dependently reduced the step-through latency, showing an amnestic response. Post-training intra-CA1 microinjection of nicotine (0.5-1 microg/rat) decreased significantly the amnesia induced by post-training morphine (7.5 mg/kg). Moreover, co-treatment of mecamylamine (0.5 and 1 microg/rat, intra-CA1) with an ineffective dose of morphine (2.5 mg/kg), immediately after training, caused inhibition of memory retrieval. On the other hand, amnesia produced by post-training morphine (7.5 mg/kg) was reversed by pre-test administration of the opioid that is due to a state-dependent effect. Interestingly, pre-test intra-CA1 microinjection of nicotine (0.25 and 0.5 microg/rat) improved post-training morphine (7.5 mg/kg)-induced retrieval impairment. Moreover, pre-test administration of the same doses of nicotine in combination with a lower dose of morphine (0.5 mg/kg), which had no effects alone, synergistically improved memory performance impaired by post-training morphine. Pre-test injection of mecamylamine (0.5-2 microg/rat) prevented the restoration of memory by pre-test morphine. It is important to note that post-training or pre-test intra-CA1 administration of the same doses of nicotine or mecamylamine, alone did not affect memory retrieval. These results suggest that nicotinic acetylcholine receptors of the hippocampal CA1 regions may play an important role in morphine-induced amnesia and morphine state-dependent memory.

Possible involvement of supraspinal opioid and GABA receptors in CDP-choline-induced antinociception in acute pain models in rats

Cytidine-5'-diphosphate choline (CDP-choline; citicoline) is an essential endogenous compound normally produced by the organism and is a source of cytidine and choline. Our recent studies on acute pain models demonstrate that intracerebroventricularly administered CDP-choline produces antinociception via supraspinal alpha-7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors-mediated mechanism in rats. However, it remains to be elucidated which other supraspinal mechanisms are involved in the antinociceptive effect of CDP-choline. In this study, we investigated the role of the supraspinal opioidergic, GABAergic, alpha-adrenergic and serotonergic receptors in CDP-choline-induced antinociception. The antinociceptive effect of CDP-choline was evoked by the intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration. Two different pain models were utilized: thermal paw withdrawal test and mechanical paw pressure test. The i.c.v. administration of CDP-choline (0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 micromol) produced dose-dependent antinociception. Non-specific opioid receptor antagonist naloxone (10 microg; i.c.v.) and GABA(B) receptor antagonist CGP-35348 (20 microg; i.c.v.) pretreatments inhibited the antinociceptive effects of CDP-choline (1.0 micromol; i.c.v.). In contrast, the alpha-1 adrenergic receptor antagonist prazosin (20 microg; i.c.v.), alpha-2 adrenergic receptor antagonist yohimbine (30 microg; i.c.v.) and non-specific serotonin receptor antagonist methysergide (20 microg; i.c.v.) pretreatments had no effect on CDP-choline-induced antinociception in the thermal paw withdrawal test and in the mechanical paw pressure test. Therefore, it can be postulated that i.c.v. administered CDP-choline exerts antinociceptive effect mediated by supraspinal opioid and GABA(B) receptors in acute pain models. Furthermore, supraspinal alpha-adrenergic and serotonergic receptors do not appear to be involved in the antinociceptive effect of CDP-choline.

The κ-opioid receptor is involved in the stimulating effect of nicotine on adrenocortical activity but not in nicotine induced anxiety

The kappa (kappa) opioid system appears to interact with nicotine in the modulation of locomotion and addiction related processes. In this study we have investigated the possible implication of the kappa-opioid system in the effects of nicotine on anxiety and adrenocortical activity. In two different experiments, we analysed the possible interaction between nicotine (0.5 mg/kg i.p.) and either the kappa-opioid receptor antagonist nor-binaltorphimine (5 mg/kg i.p.) or the kappa-opioid receptor agonist U50,488H (1 mg/kg s.c.). Behavioural and endocrine experiments were performed in different groups of animals. Animals were exposed to the holeboard immediately followed by the plus-maze. Serum corticosterone levels were determined by radioimmunoassay. Nicotine induced an anxiogenic-like effect in the plus-maze and a significant decrease of holeboard activity. The anxiogenic-like effect in the plus-maze was not modified by any of the kappa-opioid receptor ligands. Nicotine also induced a significant increase in the corticosterone levels, and the kappa antagonist, which did not exert any effect per se, antagonised this effect. The kappa-agonist U50,488H induced a significant increase in corticosterone concentration when administered alone. We provide the first evidence for the involvement of the kappa-opioid receptor in the stimulatory effect of nicotine on adrenocortical activity.

Adenosine receptor mediates nicotine-induced antinociception in formalin test

In this study, the effect of adenosine receptor agents on nicotine induced antinociception, in formalin test, has been investigated. Intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of different doses of nicotine (0.1, 1, 10 and 100 microgkg(-1)) induced a dose-dependent antinociception in mice, in the both first and second phases of the test. Adenosine receptor antagonist, theophylline (5, 10, 20 and 80 mgkg(-1), i.p.) also induced antinociception in the both phases, while a dose of the drug (40 mgkg(-1), i.p.) did not induce any response. Theophylline reduced antinociception induced by nicotine in both phases of formalin test. The A(2) receptor agonist, 5'-N-ethylcarboxamide adenosine (NECA; 1 and 5 microgkg(-1), i.p.) also produced antinociception, which was reversed with different doses of theophylline (5, 10, 20 and 40 mgkg(-1), i.p.). But administration of the adenosine receptor agonist, NECA did not potentiate the response of nicotine. It is concluded that adenosine system may be involved in modulation of antinociception induced by nicotine.

Potentiation of imipramine-induced antinociception by nicotine in the formalin test

In this study, the effect of cholinergic agents on imipramine antinociception in mice, in the formalin test, has been investigated. Intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of different doses of imipramine (2.5, 5, 10, 20 and 30 mg/kg) or nicotine (0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1 mg/kg) induced a dose dependent antinociception in both the first and second phases of the formalin test in mice. The combination of imipramine with doses of 0.5 and 0.75 mg/kg of nicotine showed a potentiated response, in both phases of the test. However, neither hexamethonium (5 and 10 mg/kg), atropine (0.25 mg/kg) or mecamylamine (0.25 mg/kg) altered the antinociception induced by imipramine. It is concluded that nicotinic receptor activation but not the cholinergic muscarinic mechanism is involved in the imipramine-induced antinociception.

The heritability of antinociception: common pharmacogenetic mediation of five neurochemically distinct analgesics

The heritability of nociception and antinociception has been well established in the mouse. The pharmacogenetics of morphine analgesia are fairly well characterized, but far less is known about other analgesics. The purpose of this work was to begin the systematic genetic study of non-mu-opioid analgesics. We tested mice of 12 inbred mouse strains for baseline nociceptive sensitivity (49 degrees C tail-withdrawal assay) and subsequent antinociceptive sensitivity to systemic administration of (trans)-3,4-dichloro-N-methyl-N-[2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-cyclohexyl]benzeneacetamide methane-sulfonate hydrate (U50,488; 10-150 mg/kg), a kappa-opioid receptor agonist; (R)-(+)-[2,3-dihydro-5-methyl-3-(4-morpholinylmethyl)pyrrolo[1,2,3-de]-1,4-benzoxazin-6-yl]-1-naphthalenylmethanone (WIN55,212-2; 0.5-480 mg/kg), a synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonist; epibatidine (7.5-150 microg/kg), a nicotinic receptor agonist; clonidine (0.1-5 mg/kg), an alpha(2)-adrenergic receptor agonist; and, for purposes of comparison, the prototypic mu-opioid receptor agonist, morphine (5-200 mg/kg). Robust interstrain variability was observed in nociceptive sensitivity and in the antinociceptive effects of each of the drugs, with extreme-responding strains exhibiting antinociceptive potencies differing up to 37-fold. Unexpectedly, we observed moderate-to-high genetic correlations of strain sensitivities to the five drugs (r = 0.39-0.77). We also found moderate-to-high correlations between baseline nociceptive sensitivity and subsequent analgesic response to each drug (r = 0.33-0.68). The generalizability of these findings was established in follow-up experiments investigating morphine and clonidine inhibition of formalin test nociception. Despite the fact that each drug activates a unique receptor, our results suggest that the potency of each drug is affected by a common set of genes. However, the genes in question may affect antinociception indirectly, via a primary action on baseline nociceptive sensitivity.

Attenuation of nicotine-induced antinociception, rewarding effects, and dependence in mu-opioid receptor knock-out mice

The involvement of mu-opioid receptors in different behavioral responses elicited by nicotine was explored by using mu-opioid receptor knock-out mice. The acute antinociceptive responses induced by nicotine in the tail-immersion and hot-plate tests were reduced in the mutant mice, whereas no difference between genotypes was observed in the locomotor responses. The rewarding effects induced by nicotine were then investigated using the conditioning place-preference paradigm. Nicotine produced rewarding responses in wild-type mice but failed to produce place preference in knock-out mice, indicating the inability of this drug to induce rewarding effects in the absence of mu-opioid receptors. Finally, the somatic expression of the nicotine withdrawal syndrome, precipitated in dependent mice by the injection of mecamylamine, was evaluated. Nicotine withdrawal was significantly attenuated in knock-out mutants when compared with wild-type mice. In summary, the present results show that mu-opioid receptors are involved in the rewarding responses induced by nicotine and participate in its antinociceptive responses and the expression of nicotine physical dependence.

Nicotine potentiation of morphine-induced catalepsy in mice

In the present study, effects of nicotine on catalepsy induced by morphine in mice have been investigated. Morphine but not nicotine induced a dose-dependent catalepsy. The response of morphine was potentiated by nicotine. Intraperitoneal administration of atropine, naloxone, mecamylamine, and hexamethonium to mice reduced catalepsy induced by a combination of morphine with nicotine. Intracerebroventricular injection of atropine, hexamethonium, and naloxone also decreased catalepsy induced by morphine plus nicotine. Intraperitoneal administration of atropine, but not intraperitoneal or intracerebroventricular injection of hexamethonium, decreased the effect of a single dose of morphine. It was concluded that morphine catalepsy can be elicited by opioid and cholinergic receptors, and the potentiation of morphine induced by nicotine may also be mediated through cholinergic receptor mechanisms.

The therapeutic potential of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonists for pain control

Due to the limitations of currently available analgesics, a number of novel alternatives are currently under investigation, including neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) agonists. During the 1990s, the discovery of the antinociceptive properties of the potent nAChR agonist epibatidine in rodents sparked interest in the analgesic potential of this class of compounds. Although epibatidine also has several mechanism-related toxicities, the identification of considerable nAChR diversity suggested that the toxicities and therapeutic actions of the compound might be mediated by distinct receptor subtypes. Consistent with this view, a number of novel nAChR agonists with antinociceptive activity and improved safety profiles in preclinical models have now been identified, including A-85380, ABT-594, DBO-83, SIB-1663 and RJR-2403. Of these, ABT-594 is the most advanced and is currently in Phase II clinical evaluation. Nicotinically-mediated antinociception has been demonstrated in a variety of rodent pain models and is likely mediated by the activation of descending inhibitory pathways originating in the brainstem with the predominant high-affinity nicotine site in brain, the alpha4beta2 subtype, playing a critical role. Thus, preclinical findings suggest that nAChR agonists have the potential to be highly efficacious treatments in a variety of pain states. However, clinical proof-of-principle studies will be required to determine if nAChR agonists are active in pathological pain.

Chronic sucrose intake enhances nicotine-induced antinociception in female but not male Long-Evans rats

Previous work has demonstrated that intake of palatable foods can alter the behavioral actions of opioid drugs. To investigate whether intake of palatable fare only affects opioid-induced behaviors or more generally influences drug-induced responses, this study examined the effects of chronic intake of a palatable sucrose solution on nicotine-induced antinociception. Eight male and eight female Long-Evans rats were provided with ground chow and water (control group), while eight males and eight females were provided with chow, water and a 32% sucrose solution (sucrose group). After 3 weeks of exposure to the dietary conditions, all rats were tested for nicotine-induced antinociception using the tail flick test. Nicotine, administered using a cumulative dose regime (0.03, 0.1, 0.3 and 1.0 mg/kg sc), led to dose-dependent increases in tail flick latencies in male and female rats. Females in the sucrose group displayed significantly greater antinociceptive responses to nicotine than those in the control group. Similar results were obtained when females were retested after an additional 2 weeks. Comparison of males and females, revealed that sucrose enhanced nicotine's antinociceptive action in female but not in male rats. While previous research suggested that sweet tasting substances might affect drug action by acting on the endogenous opioid system, the present results indicate that sucrose intake could also alter the cholinergic system and possibly other systems involved in nicotine antinociception.

Involvement of adrenergic and cholinergic systems in nicotine-induced anxiogenesis in mice

In the present study, the effect of alpha-adrenoceptor agents on response to nicotine in an anxiety model (elevated plus-maze) in mice was investigated. Administered nicotine reduced indices of anti-anxiety behaviour (percent open-arm time (%open-arm time) and percent open-arm entries (%open-arm entry)) and increased indices of anxiety behaviour (protected stretched attention posture and percent of protected head dipping (%protected dipping)), indicating that nicotine elicits an anxiogenic response. This response to the drug was obtained 7 min but not 30 min after drug injection and with doses of 0.25 and 0.5 mg/kg. Nicotinic receptor antagonists mecamylamine (0.5 and 1 mg/kg) and hexamethonium (5 and 10 mg/kg) reduced the response induced by nicotine (0.25 mg/kg). Mecamylamine (1 mg/kg; decreased %open-arm entry and increased protected stretched attention posture) and hexamethonium (10 mg/kg; decreased %open-arm time) showed an anxiogenic-like profile. A muscarinic receptor antagonist, atropine (2.5 and 5 mg/kg), did not alter the nicotine response but elicited an anxiogenic effect by itself. The alpha(1)-adrenoceptor antagonist prazosin (0.25 and 0.5 mg/kg), but not the alpha(1)-adrenoceptor agonist, phenylephrine (4 and 6 mg/kg), reversed the nicotine effect. Single administration of phenylephrine (6 mg/kg) increased %open-arm time, while prazosin did not alter the anxiety behaviour. The alpha(2)-adrenoceptor agonist clonidine (0.001 and 0.01 mg/kg), induced complete immobility when administered in combination with nicotine. However, an alpha(2)-adrenoceptor antagonist, yohimbine (0.5 and 1 mg/kg), appeared to reverse the nicotine response, but did not show interaction with nicotine's effect. Clonidine did not elicit any effect, but yohimbine (1 mg/kg) increased %open-arm entry and %open-arm time by itself. It can be concluded that certain doses of nicotine (0.25 and 0.5 mg/kg) 7 min after their injection induce an anxiogenic effect through nicotinic mechanism(s), and that involvement of alpha(1)- but not alpha(2)-adrenoceptors in the response to nicotine seems likely.

Baclofen-induced antinociception and nicotinic receptor mechanism(s)

In this study, the influences of nicotinic receptor agents on baclofen-induced antinociception in the tail-flick test have been studied. Intraperitoneal administration of baclofen (2.5, 5 and 10 mg/kg) to mice induced a dose-dependent antinociception in the tail-flick test. Subcutaneous injection of nicotine (0.5-2.5 mg/kg) also caused a dose-dependent antinociceptive response. Intracerebral (10 and 20 microg/mouse) but not intraperitoneal administration of hexamethonium (5 and 10 mg/kg) to mice decreased the response of both nicotine and baclofen. However, administration of the GABA(B) antagonist CGP 35348 (100 and 200 mg/kg) decreased the response induced by baclofen but not by nicotine. It is concluded that at least part of the baclofen-induced antinociception may be mediated through a nicotinic mechanism.

Modification of naloxone-induced withdrawal signs by dextromethorphan in morphine-dependent mice

In the present study the effect of dextromethorphan on naloxone-induced withdrawal signs in morphine-dependent mice was examined. In addition, the modulatory role of dopaminergic mechanisms upon the effect of dextromethorphan was investigated. Mice were rendered dependent on morphine by subcutaneous (s.c.) injections of morphine sulfate three times a day for 3 days, and withdrawal signs were induced by intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of naloxone 2 h after the 10th injection of morphine sulfate on day 4. Dextromethorphan (20-50 mg/kg, i.p.) caused a significant decrease in withdrawal jumping, paw-shakes, grooming, burrows, writhing and diarrhea in morphine-dependent mice. The mixed dopamine D1/D2 receptor agonist apomorphine (0.5 and 1 mg/kg, s.c.) reduced the response induced by dextromethorphan. The effect of apomorphine was blocked by the dopamine D1 receptor antagonist SCH 23390 (R-(+)-8-chloro-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-3-methyl-5-phenyl-1H-3-benzazepine-7- ol maleate) (0.5 and 1 mg/kg, i.p.) but not by the dopamine D2 receptor antagonist sulpiride (25 and 50 mg/kg, s.c.) nor the peripheral dopamine receptor antagonist domperidone (5 and 10 mg/kg, s.c.). These results suggest that the dopaminergic system(s) may in part mediate the suppressive action of the NMDA receptor antagonist dextromethorphan on naloxone-induced withdrawal signs in morphine-dependent mice.

Nicotine-induced grooming: a possible dopaminergic and/or cholinergic mechanism

The ability of nicotine, to induce grooming in rats was studied. Grooming was induced by i.p. injection of different doses (0.0675-0.5 mg/kg) of nicotine to rats. The effect was dose-dependent. However, the response was decreased with increasing doses of the drug from 0.25-0.5 mg/kg. Administration of the dopamine (DA) D1/D2 receptor agonist apomorphine (0.025-5 mg/kg, i.p.) also caused grooming in a dose-dependent manner. High doses of apomorphine (0.1-0.5 mg/kg, i.p.) also induced a lower degree of response. Combination of a low dose of nicotine (0.0675 mg/kg) with different doses of apomorphine did not show any interaction. However, there was an interaction between a high dose of nicotine and apomorphine. Thus, combination of a higher dose of nicotine (0.125 mg/kg) with apomorphine, reduced apomorphine-induced grooming. The muscarinic receptor antagonist atropine (5 and 10 mg/kg), peripheral nicotinic receptor antagonist hexamethonium (5 and 10 mg/kg), central nicotinic receptor antagonist mecamylamine (1 and 3 mg/kg) and D1 DA receptor antagonist SCH23390 (0.05 and 0.1 mg/kg) all decreased the response to nicotine. Atropine, mecamylamine and SCH23390 by themselves reduced spontaneous grooming. It is concluded that nicotine elicits grooming indirectly through a possible D1 dopaminergic mechanism. However, muscarinic and nicotinic cholinergic mechanism(s) may be involved.

The development of cross-tolerance between morphine and nicotine in mice

In the present study, cross-tolerance between nicotine and morphine in mice has been investigated. Mice were treated subcutaneously with three doses of morphine (12.5, 25 and 50 mg/kg) once daily, for 3 days in order to produce tolerance to morphine and nicotine antinociception. Tolerance only developed in the high dose group. On the 4th day, the antinociceptive effect of three test doses of morphine (3, 6 and 9 mg/kg) or nicotine (0.01, 0.05 and 0.1 mg/kg) were assessed. Tolerance to the responses of both drugs were observed. Intraperitoneal administration of nicotine (2 mg/kg) three times a day for a period of 12 days, also induced tolerance to the antinociceptive effects of both morphine and nicotine. When animals were tested on the 13th day, the antinociceptive responses of morphine or nicotine were reduced. Another group of animals was treated with low doses of morphine daily (12.5 or 25 mg/kg) plus nicotine (2 mg/kg) three times daily for 3 days. In this group of animals, the antinociception to either morphine or nicotine was tested. Combination of both drugs caused an increase in tolerance to either drug. It is concluded that there is cross-tolerance between the two drugs.

Involvement of cholinergic and opioid receptor mechanisms in nicotine-induced antinociception

In this work we have studied the influences of nicotinic agents on the antinociception of morphine in formalin test. Nicotine (0.001-0.1 mg/kg) induced antinociception in mice in a dose-dependent manner in the early phase of formalin test, and also potentiated the morphine effect. The nicotinic receptor antagonist, mecamylamine (0.5 mg/kg), but not hexamethonium decreased the antinociception induced by nicotine (0.1 mg/kg) in both phases. The muscarinic receptor antagonist atropine (5 and 10 mg/kg) also decreased the response of nicotine. Mecamylamine, hexamethonium or atropine did not alter morphine antinociceptive response, while naloxone decreased responses induced by nicotine or morphine. The antagonists by themselves did not elicit any response in formalin test, however, high does of mecamylamine tend to increase pain response. It is concluded that central cholinergic and opioid receptor mechanisms may be involved in nicotine-induced antinociception.