Systemic Morphine but Not Local Administration Shows Preventive Anti-Inflammatory Effect in a Rat Model of Capsaicin-Induced Paw Edema

Peripheral opioids and analogues have demonstrated their efficacy in controlling inflammatory response and hyperalgesia. However, it is not yet clear whether the effect on edematogenic response is determined by the action at peripheral level or by systemic opioid receptors. Methods: In this study we investigated the effects of subcutaneous, intraplantar and intraperitoneal morphine injection in rats with acute capsaicin-induced hind paw inflammation. The experiment was conducted on 50 male Sprague-Dawley rats randomly divided into 5 groups of equal numerosity. Group 1 was control group; group 2 was treated with 5 mg/kg morphine by intraperitoneal injection; group 3 with 5 mg/kg morphine injected in the back subcutaneously; group 4 and group 5 were treated respectively with 0.05 mg/kg and 0.1 mg/kg morphine locally injected in the paw before induction of neurogenic edema. Neurogenic edema was induced by the administration of 50 mcg capsaicin in 50 mcl saline in the paw. The edema was measured using a calibrated plethysmometer.