A NEW ANALGESIC TESTING METHOD USING ULTRASONIC STIMULATION

I. EFFECTS OF NARCOTIC AND NONNARCOTIC ANALGESICS

Abstract

A quantitative method for measuring pain threshold by the use of ultrasonic stimulation in mice has been designed. The method has the advantage of precision, simplicity of technique, rapidity of measurement, and the fact that the stimulus is innocuous upon repeated application. The nature of the sensations induced by ultrasonic stimulus is somewhat like that felt with a prick type of pain. Pentazocine (30, 100, 150 mg/kg i.p.), aminopyrine (15, 50, 100, 150 mg/kg i.p.), phenacetin (100, 150, 200, 250 mg/kg i.p.), sodium salicylate (150, 200, 250 mg/kg i.p.) and other antipyretic analgesics were active in a wide range of doses indicating that this technique is sensitive to the narcotic antagonist and to the weak analgesics as well as to the narcotic analgesics such as morphine (2.5, 5, 10, 15 mg/kg i.p.), codeine (10, 20, 25, 30, 50 mg/kg i.p.), and pethidine (5, 10, 15, 20, 25 mg/kg i.p.). The ultrasonic method is, therefore, applicable in screening procedures when attempting to evaluate the analgesic potency of a wide variety of chemical agents.