Xylazine antinociception in mice: evidence for mediation by postsynaptic adrenoceptors.

ABSTRACT

The influence of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) pretreatment on xylazine (XLZ)-induced antinociception was studied in mice using the writhing test (60 mg/kg acetic acid, ip, as the algogenic compound administered 10 min after 0.5 and 0.75 mg/kg XLZ, sc). 6-OHDA (100 mg kg-1 injection-1 administered ip on days 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 after birth) did not modify XLZ-induced antinociception, suggesting that this effect is mediated by postsynaptic alpha-2 adrenoceptors.