AMPA antagonist LY293558 blocks the development, without blocking the expression, of behavioral sensitization to morphine.
Morphine (3.0 mg/kg, s.c.) stimulates locomotor activity in rats, and this effect sensitizes with repeated intermittent treatment. We examined the ability of the AMPA antagonist LY293558, administered systemically over a range of doses (0.1-3.0 mg/kg), to alter morphine sensitization. Pretreatment with 3.0 mg/kg LY293558 attenuated the acute (session 1) locomotor-stimulating actions of morphine, whereas 1.0, 0.3, and 0.1 mg/kg were without effect. No sensitization was observed after repeated morphine treatment (3.0 mg/kg, s.c., every other day for 9 days) when morphine injections were preceded by 0.3, 1.0, or 3.0 mg/kg LY293558, whereas significant sensitization was observed when morphine injections were preceded by vehicle or 0.1 mg/kg of the antagonist. When all rats were challenged with morphine (3.0 mg/kg, s.c.) alone on day 11, the locomotor activity of rats previously exposed to LY293558 at 3.0, 1.0, or 0.3 mg/kg--but not at 0.1 mg/kg--was significantly lower than that of rats previously given morphine preceded by vehicle. On day 13, pretreatment with 1.0 mg/kg LY293558 failed to alter preestablished morphine sensitization in rats previously pretreated with vehicle. These data indicate that LY293558 blocks the development but not the expression of morphine sensitization, confirming a role for AMPA receptors in the initiation of neurobiological adaptations that occur with chronic morphine treatment.
Carlezon
W A
WA
Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, Connecticut Mental Health Center, New Haven 06508, USA.
Rasmussen
K
K
Nestler
E J
EJ
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007546:Isoquinolines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D009020:Morphine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D009294:Narcotics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D018091:Receptors, AMPA / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D013777:Tetrazoles / Q000494:pharmacology*
D007546:Isoquinolines; D009294:Narcotics; D018091:Receptors, AMPA; D013777:Tetrazoles; C082309:tezampanel; D009020:Morphine