Participation of the nucleus reticularis gigantocellularis in the morphine-induced elevation of plasma corticosterone in rats.
The effects of morphine, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and formalin on plasma corticosterone levels were investigated in the nucleus reticularis gigantocellularis (NRGC)-lesioned rats. ACTH (1.0 U/kg) or formalin (6.4%, 0.2 ml/rat) elevated plasma corticosterone in both sham-lesioned and NRGC-lesioned rats at the same degree, while morphine (10 mg/kg) also elevated plasma corticosterone in sham-lesioned rats, the elevation of which was significantly reduced by NRGC-lesioning. These findings suggest that the NRGC is involved in the corticosterone-increasing effect of morphine, but not involved in the effect of ACTH or formalin.
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008526:Medulla Oblongata / Q000502:physiology*; D009020:Morphine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D005557:Formaldehyde; D009020:Morphine; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D003345:Corticosterone