Papers of the Week

The mechanism by which acetaminophen produces its analgesic effects is not fully understood. One possible mechanism is the activation of the spinal 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) receptor, although direct evidence of spinal 5-HT release has not yet been reported. N-arachidonoylphenolamine (AM404), a metabolite of acetaminophen, is believed to be the key substance that contributes to the analgesic effects of acetaminophen. In this study, we examined whether acetaminophen and AM404 induce spinal 5-HT release and the mechanism through which spinal 5-HT receptor activation exerts analgesic effects in a rat formalin test in an inflammatory pain model. Spinal 5-HT release was examined by intrathecal microdialysis in conscious and freely moving rats. Acetaminophen was administered orally, and AM404 was administered intracerebroventricularly. In rat formalin tests, oral acetaminophen and intracerebroventricular AM404 induced significant spinal 5-HT release and produced analgesic effects. The analgesic effect of oral acetaminophen was partially antagonized by intrathecal administration of WAY100135 (a 5-HT receptor antagonist) and SB269970 (a 5-HT receptor antagonist). In contrast, the analgesic effect of intracerebroventricular AM404 was completely antagonized by WAY100135, while SB269970 had no effect. Our data suggest that while oral acetaminophen and intracerebroventricular AM404 activate the spinal 5-HT system, the role of the spinal 5-HT system activated by oral acetaminophen differs from that activated by intracerebroventricular AM404.