Antidepressant-like effects of BU10119, a novel buprenorphine analogue with mixed κ/μ receptor antagonist properties, in mice

Background and Purpose: The κ receptor antagonists have potential for treating neuropsychiatric disorders. We have investigated the in vivo pharmacology of a novel buprenorphine analogue, BU10119, for the first time. Experimental Approach: To determine the opioid pharmacology of BU10119 (0.3–3 mg·kg ⁻¹, i.p.) in vivo, the warm-water tail-withdrawal assay was applied in adult male CD1 mice. A range of behavioural paradigms was used to investigate the locomotor effects, rewarding properties and antidepressant or anxiolytic potential of BU10119. Additional groups of mice were exposed to a single (1 × 2 h) or repeated restraint stress (3× daily 2 h) to determine the ability of BU10119 to block stress-induced analgesia. Key Results: BU10119 alone was without any antinociceptive activity. BU10119 (1 mg·kg ⁻¹) was able to block U50,488, buprenorphine and morphine-induced antinociception. The κ antagonist effects of BU10119 in the tail-withdrawal assay reversed between 24 and 48 h. BU10119 was without significant locomotor or rewarding effects. BU10119 (1 mg·kg ⁻¹) significantly reduced the latency to feed in the novelty-induced hypophagia task and reduced immobility time in the forced swim test, compared to saline-treated animals. There were no significant effects of BU10119 in either the elevated plus maze or the light–dark box. Both acute and repeated restraint stress-induced analgesia were blocked by pretreatment with BU10119 (1 mg·kg ⁻¹). Parallel stress-induced increases in plasma corticosterone were not affected. Conclusions and Implications: BU10119 is a mixed κ/μ receptor antagonist with relatively short-duration κ antagonist activity. Based on these preclinical data, BU10119 has therapeutic potential for the treatment of depression and other stress-induced conditions. Linked Articles: This article is part of a themed section on Emerging Areas of Opioid Pharmacology. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v175.14/issuetoc.