NMDA receptor antagonist blocks the facilitation of the tail flick reflex in the rat induced by intrathecal administration of substance P and by noxious cutaneous stimulation

This study examined effects of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, 2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid (APV), on facilitation of the tail flick reflex (1) by intrathecal administration of 6.5 nmol of substance P at the lumbar spinal level in awake rats and (2) by noxious cutaneous stimulation in anesthetized rats (by immersing the tip of the tail in hot water at 55 +/- 1 degrees C for 1.5 min). Reaction time was decreased by about …