title: Morphine-induced place preference: involvement of cholinergic receptors of the ventral tegmental area.
abstract: In the present study, the effects of intra-ventral tegmental area injections of cholinergic agents on morphine-induced conditioned place preference were investigated by using an unbiased 3-day schedule of place conditioning design in rats. The conditioning treatments with subcutaneous injections of morphine (0.5-7.5 mg/kg) induced a significant dose-dependent conditioned place preference for the drug-associated place. Intra-ventral tegmental area injection of an anticholinesterase, physostigmine (2.5 and 5 microg/rat) or nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist, nicotine (0.5 and 1 microg/rat) with an ineffective dose of morphine (0.5 mg/kg) elicited a significant conditioned place preference. Furthermore, intra-ventral tegmental area administration of muscarinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist, atropine (1-4 microg/rat) or nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist, mecamylamine (5 and 7.5 microg/rat) dose-dependently inhibited the morphine (5 mg/kg)-induced place preference. Atropine or mecamylamine reversed the effect of physostigmine or nicotine on morphine response respectively. The injection of physostigmine, but not atropine, nicotine or mecamylamine, into the ventral tegmental area alone produced a significant place aversion. Moreover, intra-ventral tegmental area administration of the higher doses of physostigmine or atropine, but not nicotine or mecamylamine decreased the locomotor activity. We conclude that muscarinic and nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the ventral tegmental area may critically mediate the rewarding effects of morphine.
authors.affiliation: School of Biology, University College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran. rezayof@khayam.ut.ac.ir
authors.forename: Ameneh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rezayof
authors.forename: Farzaneh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nazari-Serenjeh
authors.forename: Mohammad-Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Zarrindast
authors.forename: Houri
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sepehri
authors.forename: Ladan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Delphi
mesh_terms: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001285:Atropine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008297:Male; D008464:Mecamylamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D009020:Morphine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D009538:Nicotine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D018733:Nicotinic Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D010830:Physostigmine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000502:physiology*; D017557:Ventral Tegmental Area / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists; D018733:Nicotinic Antagonists; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic; D008464:Mecamylamine; D009538:Nicotine; D009020:Morphine; D001285:Atropine; D010830:Physostigmine