title: Supersensitivity of 5-HT1A autoreceptors and alpha2-adrenoceptors regulating monoamine synthesis in the brain of morphine-dependent rats.
abstract: The sensitivity of 5-HT1A serotonin receptors and alpha2-adrenoceptors (autoreceptors and heteroreceptors) modulating brain monoamine synthesis was investigated in rats during morphine treatment and after naloxone-precipitated withdrawal. The accumulation of 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) after decarboxylase inhibition was used as a measure of the rate of tryptophan and tyrosine hydroxylation in vivo. Acute morphine (3-100 mg/kg, 1 h) increased the synthesis of 5-HTP/5-HT in various brain regions (15%-35%) and that of DOPA/dopamine (DA) in striatum (28%-63%), but decreased the synthesis of DOPA/noradrenaline (NA) in hippocampus and cortex (20%-33%). Naloxone (2-60 mg/kg, 1 h) did not alter the synthesis of 5-HTP or DOPA in brain. Tolerance to the inhibitory effect of morphine on DOPA/NA synthesis and a sensitization to its stimulatory effects on DOPA/DA and 5-HTP/5-HT synthesis were observed after chronic morphine and/or in morphine-withdrawn rats. In morphine-dependent rats (tolerant and withdrawn states) the inhibitory effects of the 5-HT1A agonists 8-OH-DPAT and buspirone (0.1 mg/kg, 1 h), and that of the alpha2-adrenoceptor agonist clonidine (0.1 mg/kg, 1 h), on the synthesis of 5-HTP/5-HT were potentiated (25%-50%). Moreover, the effect of 8-OH-DPAT was antagonized by WAY 100135, a selective 5-HT1A antagonist. In morphine-dependent rats (tolerant state), the inhibitory effects of clonidine on the synthesis of DOPA/NA (hippocampus, hypothalamus) and DOPA/DA (striatum) also were potentiated (35%-55%). In summary, we conclude that morphine addiction is associated with supersensitivity of 5-HT1A serotonin receptors and alpha2-adrenoceptors (autoreceptors and heteroreceptors) that modulate the synthesis of monoamines in brain.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, Associate Unit of the Institute Cajal/CSIC, Department of Biology, University of the Balearic Islands, Cra. Valldemossa Km 7.5, 07071 Palma de Mallorca, Spain.
authors.forename: Antoni
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sastre-Coll
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Esteban
authors.forename: Jesús A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: García-Sevilla
mesh_terms: D006916:5-Hydroxytryptophan / Q000096:biosynthesis; D017371:8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D017660:Autoreceptors / Q000378:metabolism; D015306:Biogenic Monoamines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D004295:Dihydroxyphenylalanine / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008297:Male; D009020:Morphine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009021:Morphine Dependence / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D009270:Naloxone / Q000494:pharmacology; D009294:Narcotics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000096:biosynthesis; D010879:Piperazines / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D018341:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D044263:Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT1; D012701:Serotonin / Q000096:biosynthesis; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D006916:5-Hydroxytryptophan; D017371:8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin; D017660:Autoreceptors; D015306:Biogenic Monoamines; D004295:Dihydroxyphenylalanine; D009020:Morphine; D009270:Naloxone; D009294:Narcotics; D009638:Norepinephrine; D010879:Piperazines; D018341:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D044263:Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT1; D012701:Serotonin; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; C081293:WAY 100135