title: Multiple effects of morphine on facial scratching in monkeys.
abstract: The medullary dorsal horn (MDH), the medullary homolog of the spinal dorsal horn, is a site where opioid-receptor agonists can act at opioid receptors to produce pronounced facial scratching, the behavioral correlate of pruritus. In the present study, after a 10-min baseline period, morphine (5.0 micrograms) was micro-injected into the MDH of monkeys. Behavior was videotaped and facial scratches were counted by two independent raters. Morphine greatly increased facial scratching behavior, which is consistent with previous findings where mu-opioid receptor agonists microinjected into the MDH have been to induce dose-dependent, naloxone-reversible facial scratching in monkeys. In the current research, intramuscular (IM) administration of the opioid-receptor antagonist, naloxone (0.5 mg/kg), reversed this MDH morphine-induced scratching. Additionally, IM morphine (1.0 mg/kg) produced a substantial reduction in facial scratching behavior. Scratching behavior continued at a high rate after injection of saline (0.1 mL/kg, IM). These findings support the hypothesis that morphine has both pruragenic and antipruragenic activity, depending on the site of action.
authors.affiliation: Neurobiology and Anesthesiology Branch, National Institute of Dental Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Iwata
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Kenshalo
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dubner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D005148:Facial Dermatoses / Q000139:chemically induced*; D007278:Injections, Spinal; D008252:Macaca fascicularis; D008297:Male; D009020:Morphine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011537:Pruritus / Q000139:chemically induced*; D013116:Spinal Cord
chemical_list: D009020:Morphine