Interaction of naloxone with mu- and delta-opioid agonists on the respiration of rats.

The respiratory depression induced by two mu-opiate agonists morphine and Tyr-D-Ala-Gly-N-Me-Phe-Met(O)-ol (FK-33824), and two delta-agonists Tyr-D-Ala-Gly-Phe-D-Leu (DADLE) and Tyr-D-Ser-Gly-Phe-Leu-Thr (D-Ser2-Thr6) was studied in rats by using the intracerebroventricular route. The four opioids caused a dose-dependent depression of respiratory frequency down to apnea but high doses of morphine elicited motor activation and seizure activity. FK-33824 was the most potent, followed by DADLE, D-Ser2-Thr6 and morphine. The in vivo apparent pA2 values were determined for naloxone against FK-33824, DADLE and D-Ser2-Thr6. The pA2 value of naloxone interacting with the mu-agonist FK-33824 was significantly lower than those obtained against the two delta-agonists. It is proposed that different types of opiate receptors are involved in the opiate-induced respiratory depression.