title: Brain catecholamine metabolites and behavior in morphine withdrawal.
abstract: Morphine withdrawal behavior, brain and plasma catecholamine metabolites, and brain beta-noradrenergic receptor binding were examined after acute treatment with naloxone in rats treated with morphine pellets or a sham pelleting procedure. Increases in brain 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenethyleneglycol (MHPG), a norepinephrine metabolite, occurred in parallel with rated withdrawal behavior. Withdrawal behavior correlated significantly with brain, and, more modestly, with plasma levels of MHPG but did not correlate with beta-receptor binding or HVA. The effectiveness of debrisoquin sulfate was variable, but the reductions in withdrawal signs and cerebral cortex MHPG were strongly correlated. These data support a direct relationship between presynaptic noradrenergic hyperactivity and opiate withdrawal behavior.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects*; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000378:metabolism*; D003647:Debrisoquin / Q000494:pharmacology; D006719:Homovanillic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol / Q000378:metabolism; D009021:Morphine Dependence / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011957:Receptors, Opioid / Q000378:metabolism; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism*; D013574:Synaptosomes / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002395:Catecholamines; D011957:Receptors, Opioid; D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol; D003647:Debrisoquin; D006719:Homovanillic Acid