BW373U86
Encyclopedia
BW373U86 is an opioid
analgesic
drug used in scientific research.
BW373U86 is a selective agonist
for the δ-opioid
receptor
, with approximately 15x stronger affinity for the δ-opioid than the μ-opioid receptor. It has potent analgesic
and antidepressant
effects in animal studies, and triggers release of the neural growth factor BDNF, but its usefulness is limited by producing convulsion
s at high doses, although the convulsive effect is reduced when it is co-administered with μ-opioid agonists. Another advantage of the combination is that BW373U86 reverses the respiratory depression produced by μ-opioid agonists, without affecting pain relief.
Another useful effect of BW373U86 is that it protects heart muscle cells from death in conditions of ischemia
(oxygen deprivation, such as in heart attack). The mechanism for this is complex and may be separate from its delta agonist effects.
Opioid
An opioid is a psychoactive chemical that works by binding to opioid receptors, which are found principally in the central and peripheral nervous system and the gastrointestinal tract...
analgesic
Analgesic
An analgesic is any member of the group of drugs used to relieve pain . The word analgesic derives from Greek an- and algos ....
drug used in scientific research.
BW373U86 is a selective agonist
Agonist
An agonist is a chemical that binds to a receptor of a cell and triggers a response by that cell. Agonists often mimic the action of a naturally occurring substance...
for the δ-opioid
Delta Opioid receptor
The δ-opioid receptors, also known as delta opioid receptor or simply delta receptor, abbreviated DOR, is an opioid receptor that has enkephalins as its endogenous ligands.-Function:...
receptor
Receptor (biochemistry)
In biochemistry, a receptor is a molecule found on the surface of a cell, which receives specific chemical signals from neighbouring cells or the wider environment within an organism...
, with approximately 15x stronger affinity for the δ-opioid than the μ-opioid receptor. It has potent analgesic
Analgesic
An analgesic is any member of the group of drugs used to relieve pain . The word analgesic derives from Greek an- and algos ....
and antidepressant
Antidepressant
An antidepressant is a psychiatric medication used to alleviate mood disorders, such as major depression and dysthymia and anxiety disorders such as social anxiety disorder. According to Gelder, Mayou &*Geddes people with a depressive illness will experience a therapeutic effect to their mood;...
effects in animal studies, and triggers release of the neural growth factor BDNF, but its usefulness is limited by producing convulsion
Convulsion
A convulsion is a medical condition where body muscles contract and relax rapidly and repeatedly, resulting in an uncontrolled shaking of the body. Because a convulsion is often a symptom of an epileptic seizure, the term convulsion is sometimes used as a synonym for seizure...
s at high doses, although the convulsive effect is reduced when it is co-administered with μ-opioid agonists. Another advantage of the combination is that BW373U86 reverses the respiratory depression produced by μ-opioid agonists, without affecting pain relief.
Another useful effect of BW373U86 is that it protects heart muscle cells from death in conditions of ischemia
Ischemia
In medicine, ischemia is a restriction in blood supply, generally due to factors in the blood vessels, with resultant damage or dysfunction of tissue. It may also be spelled ischaemia or ischæmia...
(oxygen deprivation, such as in heart attack). The mechanism for this is complex and may be separate from its delta agonist effects.