Insights into opioid action in the intestinal tract

Opioids have been used for centuries as antidiarrhoeal drugs. In recent years, their mechanism and sites of action in exerting their antidiarrhoeal effect have been studied intensely. Attempts have been made to propose their general mode of action. Whilst there are numerous similarities in their gen...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inPharmacology & therapeutics (Oxford) Vol. 69; no. 2; pp. 103 - 115
Main Authors De Luca, Anthony, Coupar, Ian M.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published England Elsevier Inc 1996
Subjects
Analgesics, Opioid - adverse effects
Analgesics, Opioid - pharmacology
Animals
Antidiarrheals - pharmacology
Antidiarrhoeal
Constipation - chemically induced
Diarrhea - drug therapy
fluid secretion
Gastrointestinal Motility - drug effects
Guinea Pigs
Intestinal Mucosa - drug effects
Intestinal Mucosa - secretion
Loperamide - pharmacology
Morphine - adverse effects
Morphine - pharmacology
motility
opioids
Receptors, Opioid
Substance Withdrawal Syndrome - complications
fluid secretion
motility
Antidiarrhoeal
opioids
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Summary:Opioids have been used for centuries as antidiarrhoeal drugs. In recent years, their mechanism and sites of action in exerting their antidiarrhoeal effect have been studied intensely. Attempts have been made to propose their general mode of action. Whilst there are numerous similarities in their general effects on motility, fluid secretion, and neuroeffector transmission, the differences between species, in some cases, can be remarkable. We highlight and contrast the similarities and differences in the commonly examined species and compare them to humans. Insights into mechanisms of opioid antidiarrhoeal action now also provide some new perspectives of opioid action in the intestine.
ISSN:0163-7258
1879-016X
DOI:10.1016/0163-7258(95)02053-5