Opiates stimulate food consumption in the land snail Helix aspersa.
Morphine stimulates food consumption in the land snail Helix aspersa. This stimulation of food consumption can be blocked by naloxone, the potent opiate antagonist. In addition, this opiate-induced food consumption exhibits tolerance by the sixth day of treatment. This study further highlights opioid mechanisms in relatively simple organisms and also suggests that these mechanisms are "ancient" signal systems.
D000818:Animals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005048:Etorphine / Q000494:pharmacology; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D006372:Helix, Snails / Q000502:physiology*; D009020:Morphine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009270:Naloxone / Q000494:pharmacology*
D009270:Naloxone; D005048:Etorphine; D009020:Morphine