Clonidine reduces substance P binding in rat spinal cord membrane preparation.

The effects of clonidine on substance P (SP) binding was investigated using rat brain and spinal cord membrane preparations preincubated with various concentrations of clonidine. [3H]SP specific binding in the spinal cord was significantly decreased with 10(-4) M clonidine, but no effect on binding was seen in the brain. Scatchard analysis of SP binding indicated that Bmax was significantly depressed without changing the affinity. The mechanism of clonidine-induced analgesia includes a spinal neural component and action on the SP receptors.