Further studies of the role of opioid receptors in the nigra in the morphine withdrawal syndrome.
Bilateral injection of naloxone (3.0-30.0 nmol) into the substantia nigra of morphine-dependent rats produced a withdrawal syndrome consisting of wet-dog shakes, teeth chattering, irritability to touch, diarrhea and hypothermia. Intense wet-dog shakes and grooming were observed after intranigral injection of the mu selective antagonist D-Phe-Cys-Try-D-Trp-Orn-Thr-Pen-Thr-NH2 (CTOP, 3.0-30.0 nmol) in morphine-dependent animals. Body temperature after 30.0 nmol CTOP was significantly increased. A significant positive correlation between body temperature and wet-dog shakes was observed in morphine-dependent animals that received CTOP. Intranigral injection of beta-funaltrexamine (beta-FNA, 10.0 nmol), an irreversible mu antagonist, produced no signs of withdrawal in morphine-dependent animals. However, intranigral injection of beta-FNA (1.0-3.0 nmol) suppressed the antinociceptive effect of the mu-selective agonist, D-Ala2,N-Me-Phe4,Gly5-ol-enkephalin (DAGO, 1.0 nmol). The withdrawal syndrome produced by CTOP (10.0 nmol) was not suppressed by the administration of U50,488H (10.0 nmol), a kappa agonist, suggesting that the absence of an effect of beta-FNA was not due to its kappa agonist activity. Neither the delta-selective antagonist, naltrindole (NTI, 10.0 nmol) nor the kappa-selective antagonist, nor-binaltorphimine (nor-BNI, 10.0 nmol) produced withdrawal. Only wet-dog shakes were observed when CTOP, NTI and nor-BNI (5 nmol each) were administered together into the nigra. These studies suggest an involvement of mu receptors in the nigra in the wet-dog shakes and thermoregulatory dysfunction that occur during withdrawal of morphine. However, the subtypes of opioid receptors in the nigra, that mediate the other signs of morphine withdrawal remain obscure.
Department of Psychology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rogue 70803.
A A
AA
Baumeister
A L
AL
Richard
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L
Richmond-Landeche
M J
MJ
Hurry
A M
AM
Waguespack
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000700:Analgesics / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000187:drug effects; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D020875:Enkephalin, Ala(2)-MePhe(4)-Gly(5)-; D004745:Enkephalins / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009020:Morphine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009021:Morphine Dependence / Q000523:psychology; D009270:Naloxone / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011957:Receptors, Opioid / Q000187:drug effects*; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D013238:Stereotaxic Techniques; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000187:drug effects*
D000700:Analgesics; D004745:Enkephalins; D011957:Receptors, Opioid; D020875:Enkephalin, Ala(2)-MePhe(4)-Gly(5)-; C049352:phenylalanyl-cyclo(cysteinyltyrosyl-tryptophyl-ornithyl-threonyl-penicillamine)threoninamide; D009270:Naloxone; D013004:Somatostatin; D009020:Morphine