title: Repeated naltrexone administration accelerates resolution of morphine somatic withdrawal signs in morphine-dependent rats.
abstract: Morphine-dependent rats were divided into two subgroups. The first was allowed to develop a spontaneous withdrawal syndrome which was still present 33 h after the last morphine administration. The second subgroup received five injections of naltrexone. While the first two injections of naltrexone precipitated a marked somatic withdrawal syndrome, subsequent naltrexone failed to worsen the somatic signs. 24 h after the last morphine administration, naltrexone was completely ineffective. It is concluded that naltrexone shortens the duration of the morphine somatic withdrawal signs in dependent rats.
authors.affiliation: B.B. Brodie Department of Neuroscience, University of Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Muntoni
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Diana
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Gessa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009021:Morphine Dependence / Q000523:psychology*; D009271:Naltrexone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000523:psychology*
chemical_list: D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D009271:Naltrexone