Antinociception induced by systemic administration of local anaesthetics depends on a central cholinergic mechanism

1 The antinociceptive effects of systemically‐administered procaine, lignocaine and bupivacaine were examined in mice and rats by using the hot‐plate, writhing and tail flick tests. 2 In both species all three local anaesthetics produced significant antinociception which was prevented by atropine (5 mg kg−1, i.p.) and by hemicholinium‐3 (1 μg per mouse, i.c.v.), but not by naloxone (3 mg kg−1, i.p.), α‐methyl‐p‐tyrosine (100 mg kg−1, s.c.), reserpine (2 mg kg−1, i.p.) or atropine methylbromide (5.5 mg kg−1, i.p.). 3 Atropine (5 mg kg−1, i.p.) which totally antagonized oxotremorine (40 μg kg−1, s.c.) antinociception did not modify morphine (5 mg kg−1, s.c.) or baclofen (4 mg kg−1, s.c.) antinociception. On the other hand, hemicholinium, which antagonized local anaesthetic antinociception, did not prevent oxotremorine, morphine or baclofen antinociception. 4 Intracerebroventricular injection in mice of procaine (200 μg), lignocaine (150 μg) and bupivacaine (25 μg), doses which were largely ineffective by parenteral routes, induced an antinociception whose intensity equalled that obtainable subcutaneously. Moreover, the i.c.v. injection of antinociceptive doses did not impair performance on the rota‐rod test. 5 Concentrations below 10−10 m of procaine, lignocaine and bupivacaine did not evoke any response on the isolated longitudinal muscle strip of guinea‐pig ileum, or modify acetylcholine (ACh)‐induced contractions. On the other hand, they always increased electrically‐evoked twitches. 6 The same concentrations of local anaesthetics which induced antinociception did not inhibit acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in vitro. 7 On the basis of the above findings and the existing literature, a facilitation of cholinergic transmission by the local anaesthetics is postulated; this could be due to blockade of presynaptic muscarinic receptors.