Effects of calcitonin gene-related peptide on acute and chronic effects of morphine.

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), which has been observed in different parts of the nervous system, is known to modify pain sensitivity to different stimuli in rats and mice. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible interaction of CGRP with morphine on nociception in adult male NMRI mice after central administration of the peptide. CGRP (20 or 200 ng) did not itself modify pain sensitivity in the tail-flick test and did not affect the acute antinociceptive action of a single dose of morphine in the same test. However, CGRP suppressed the development of rapid tolerance to morphine in a dose-dependent manner, but had no action on the development of chronic tolerance to morphine and on manifestations of naloxone-precipitated withdrawal syndrome.