%0 Journal Article %T Effect of Peptidase Inhibitors on Dynorphin A (1-17) or (1-13)-Induced Antinociception and Toxicity at Spinal Level %A Mitsumasa Matsuda %A Masanobu Yoshikawa %A Takugi Kan %A Mariko Watanabe %A Junko Ajimi %A Shigeru Takahashi %A Masaaki Miura %A Kenji Ito %A Hiroyuki Kobayashi %A Toshiyasu Suzuki %J Pharmacology & Pharmacy %P 33-51 %@ 2157-9431 %D 2017 %I Scientific Research Publishing %R 10.4236/pp.2017.82003 %X Our group has earlier demonstrated that three enzymes sensitive to peptidase inhibitors (PIs), amastatin (A)-, captopril (C)-, and phosphoramidon (P), played an important role in inactivation of enkephalins at the spinal level. Dynorphin-converting enzyme (DCE) hydrolyzes dynorphin (Dyn) A (1-17) or Dyn A (1-13) mainly at the Arg6-Arg7 bond. Dynorphin A and its derived peptides interact with opioid and glutamate receptors at their N- and C-terminals, respectively. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the antinociceptive potency and toxicity of intrathecal administered Dyn A (1-17), Dyn A (1-13), or Dyn A (1-6) under pretreatment with ACP and/or the DCE inhibitor p-hydroxymercuribenzoate (PHMB). The effect of these PIs on Dyn A (1-17)-induced inhibition of electrically-evoked contractions in mouse vas deferens was also investigated. The inhibitory potency of Dyn A (1-17) on electrically-evoked contractions in mouse vas deferens under pretreatment with ACP was higher than that with AC, AP, or CP. Pretreatment with ACP augmented Dyn A (1-17) or (1-13)-induced antinociception by approximately 50- or 30-fold with no sign of allodynia when administered intrathecally at low doses. Pretreatment with ACP and PHMB induced neuropathy. These findings showed that intrathecal administration of low-dose Dyn A (1-17) or DynA (1-13) increased antinociception under pretreatment with ACP, but without signs of allodynia in rat. %K Dynorphin A %K Peptidase %K Dynorphin-Converting Enzyme %K Antinociception %K Allodynia %U http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=74072