title: Characteristics of precipitated withdrawal from spinal morphine: changes in [Met5]enkephalin levels.
abstract: This investigation was carried out to study the development of physical dependence on spinally administered morphine, and it was determined if this phenomenon is associated with altered levels of [Met5]enkephalin. Morphine was infused continuously into the intrathecal space of rats for three or six days. In morphine-dependent animals, an intrathecal naloxone challenge produced increased reaction to nociceptive stimuli, hypertension, hyperthermia, decreased urinary output, and loss of body weight. Chronic spinal infusion of morphine alone failed to alter levels of [Met5]enkephalin in sacral and lumbar spinal cord. However, 24 h after the naloxone challenge, there was a significant increase in spinal enkephalin levels in morphine-dependent animals. It is concluded that spinal morphine treatment leads to the development of physical dependence. Certain characteristics of this phenomenon, as reflected in the naloxone-precipitated withdrawal signs, differ from those associated with dependence on systemic morphine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Cridland
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sutak
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jhamandas
mesh_terms: D000700:Analgesics / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000187:drug effects; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D004361:Drug Tolerance; D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine / Q000378:metabolism*; D007278:Injections, Spinal; D008297:Male; D009020:Morphine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009270:Naloxone / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism*; D014563:Urodynamics / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D009270:Naloxone; D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine; D009020:Morphine