title: Inhibition of the morphine withdrawal syndrome by a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester.
abstract: The hypothesis that an arginine-nitric oxide (NO) synthase-NO system mediates the morphine abstinence syndrome was tested in adult male rats implanted subcutaneously for 3 days with one morphine (75 mg) pellet followed by naloxone-precipitated withdrawal (0.5 mg/kg). Injection with a NO synthase inhibitor, NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (NAME, 100 mg/kg subcutaneous), shortly before naloxone-induced withdrawal significantly inhibited abstinence signs by 25-80%. Continuous infusion of NAME via subcutaneous osmotic pumps during the development of morphine physical dependence and during naloxone-precipitated withdrawal also inhibited morphine abstinence signs. In addition, treatment with isosorbide dinitrate, a NO donor, induced a quasi morphine-abstinence syndrome (QMAS) that was significantly suppressed by implantation of a morphine pellet 3 days before isosorbide dinitrate treatment. These results indicate that NO mediates part of the expression of the morphine abstinence syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kalicki
authors.forename: E R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Cicero
mesh_terms: D000594:Amino Acid Oxidoreductases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D009020:Morphine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester; D009270:Naloxone / Q000494:pharmacology; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D009270:Naloxone; D009020:Morphine; D001120:Arginine; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D000594:Amino Acid Oxidoreductases; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester