Magnitude of tolerance to fentanyl is independent of mu-opioid receptor density.
The effect of a mu-opioid receptor irreversible antagonist on the development of tolerance to fentanyl was determined in mice. Mice were injected with saline or clocinnamox (3.2 mg/kg, i.p.) and 4 h later mice implanted s.c. with a placebo pellet or an osmotic minipump that infused fentanyl (0.165 mg/kg per day) for 3 days. Fentanyl pumps and placebo pellets were removed on the third day following implantation and 4 h later mu-opioid receptor saturation binding studies in whole brain ([3H][D-Ala2,MePhe4,Gly-ol5]enkephalin: DAMGO) or fentanyl analgesic dose-response studies (tailflick assay) were conducted. Fentanyl infusions and clocinnamox both significantly reduced the potency of fentanyl by 2.8- and 2.4-fold, respectively. When fentanyl and clocinnamox were administered together, a significant 5.0-fold reduction in fentanyl potency relative to the saline-placebo group was observed, which represents an additive effect of clocinnamox and fentanyl. The ED50 of fentanyl in clocinnamox-treated mice was shifted 2.1-fold by fentanyl infusion relative to the clocinnamox-placebo group. This is comparable to the 2.8-fold shift in the ED50 produced by fentanyl infusion in saline-treated mice. In binding studies, fentanyl produced a small (-9%) reduction in Bmax, while clocinnamox significantly reduced (-41%) mu-opioid receptor density without altering affinity (Kd). In the clocinnamox-fentanyl group, there was a 50% reduction in Bmax, which is similar to the additive effect observed in analgesia studies. These data indicate that changes in mu-opioid receptor density prior to the development of tolerance to fentanyl do not impact on the magnitude of tolerance.