Effects of reserpine and 5-HT on analgesia induced by lappaconitine and N-deacetyllappaconitine

In the rat tail-flick test it was shown that ip lappaconitine (LA) 1-6 mg/kg, N-deacetyllappaconitine (DLA) 4-10 mg/kg or icv DLA 20-60 micrograms/rat exhibited a dose-dependent analgesic activity, but icv LA 20-40 micrograms/rat was inactive. The analgesic potency of ip LA was a little more potent than that of DLA and slightly weaker than that of morphine (P less than 0.05). Combined ip of subanalgesic doses of morphine and LA or DLA produced significant analgesic action. Analgesia mediated by LA was not antagonized by naloxone. The analgesic effect induced by LA or DLA was abolished and restored 3 and 120 h, respectively, after ip reserpine 3 mg/kg. Concomitant administration of 1-tryptophan or 5-HT as well as premedication of alpha-methyldopa prevented reserpine-induced decrease on LA or DLA analgesia. The elevation of brain 5-HT level by icv 5-HT significantly enhanced the analgesia of LA and DLA. LA- or DLA-induced analgesia was attenuated by pretreatment of p-chlorophenylalanine but this attenuation was reversed by icv 5-HT. p-Chloroamphetamine also markedly reduced LA- or DLA-induced analgesia. It is concluded that the central serotoninergic system is involved in the modulation of LA- or DLA-induced analgesia.