title: Neurosteroids and the naloxone-precipitated withdrawal syndrome in morphine-dependent mice.
abstract: The effects of some neurosteroids on behavioral and hormonal markers of the naloxone-precipitated withdrawal syndrome in morphine-dependent mice were examined. 5 alpha-Pregnane-3, 20-dione inhibited dose-dependently the jumping behavior and the number of forepaw tremors, at a dose of 5 mg/kg it attenuated body weight loss; deoxycorticosterone acetate inhibited dose-dependently the jumping behavior and body weight loss, whereas dehydroepiandrosterone in a dose of 1 mg/kg prevented body weight loss, and in a dose of 20 mg/kg forepaw tremor. The other steroids tested had no significant effect on the morphine withdrawal syndrome. None of the neurosteroids influenced the increased plasma corticosterone level in the naloxone-precipitated morphine withdrawal syndrome. The above results indicate that 5 alpha-pregnane-3, 20-dione, deoxycorticosterone acetate and dehydroepiandrosterone, but not other neurosteroids tested, alleviate some signs of the morphine abstinence syndrome in mice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Cracow, Poland.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Budziszewska
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jaworska-Feil
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lasoń
mesh_terms: D043582:5-alpha-Dihydroprogesterone; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003900:Desoxycorticosterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009020:Morphine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009270:Naloxone / Q000494:pharmacology; D009294:Narcotics / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011277:Pregnanediones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D009294:Narcotics; D011277:Pregnanediones; D009270:Naloxone; D003900:Desoxycorticosterone; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D009020:Morphine; D043582:5-alpha-Dihydroprogesterone; D003345:Corticosterone