Although opioids inhibit action potential (AP) conduction in primary-afferent fibers, this has not yet been fully examined. We investigated by using the sharp glass microelectrode technique how opioids (morphine, codeine, and ethylmorphine) affect APs recorded from adult rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons in response to sciatic nerve stimulation. The DRG neurons were classified into three types, Aα/β, Aδ, and C, according to AP characteristics, including the fiber conduction velocity (CV) of the neuron. AP of the Aα/β neuron was reduced in peak amplitude by each of the opioids in a reversible and concentration-dependent manner. The potency sequence was ethylmorphine > codeine = morphine (IC(50) = 0.70, 2.5, and 2.9 mM, respectively), indicating that this AP inhibition is related to the chemical structure of the opioid. Each of the Aδ and C neuron APs was also inhibited by the opioids; ethylmorphine had a tendency to inhibit APs more effectively than codeine and morphine. This inhibition was variable in extent among neurons and was either comparable to or greater than that of the Aα/β neuron AP. The opioid-induced AP inhibitions were unaffected by nonspecific opioid-receptor antagonist naloxone; opioid-receptor agonists did not affect APs. In conclusion, the opioids inhibited APs in DRG neurons without opioid-receptor activation; this inhibition was different among neurons having different primary-afferent fiber CVs and also among the three kinds of opioid. The inhibition by opioid of primary-afferent fiber AP conduction is suggested to be distinct in extent among fibers conveying distinct types of nociceptive information.
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