Carnosine ameliorates morphine-induced conditioned place preference in rats.
The histidine-containing dipeptide, carnosine (beta-alanyl-L-histidine), is present in high concentrations in mammalian brain of mammals. There are many theories about its biological functions, such as anti-inflammatory agent, free radical scavenger, and protein glycosylation inhibitor, however, the role of carnosine in morphine addiction is less understood. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to determine the effects of carnosine on the development of morphine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) and investigate its possible mechanism of action in Sprague-Dawley rats. Intraperitioneal (i.p.) injection of carnosine (200, 500, 1000 mg/kg) significantly inhibited the development of morphine-induced CPP in a dose-dependent manner. Although carnosine had no appreciable effect on the levels of histamine in the ventral tegmental area (VTA), nucleus accumbens (NAc) and prefrontal cortex (PFC), it significantly decreased glutamate level in the VTA, dopamine levels in the NAc and PFC, and DOPAC level in the NAc of morphine-treated rats. These results indicate that carnosine inhibits morphine-induced CPP in rats, and its action may be due to modulation of dopaminergic and glutaminergic activity. The study suggests that carnosine has potential as a new anti-addictive drug.
Gong
Ying-xia
YX
Department of Pharmacology and Neurobiology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
Wang
Hui-juan
HJ
Zhu
Yong-ping
YP
Zhang
Wei-ping
WP
Dai
Hai-bing
HB
Zhang
Shi-hong
SH
Wei
Er-qing
EQ
Chen
Zhong
Z
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D002336:Carnosine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000187:drug effects*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006632:Histamine / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009020:Morphine / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009714:Nucleus Accumbens / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017557:Ventral Tegmental Area / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D009020:Morphine; D006632:Histamine; D002336:Carnosine; D004298:Dopamine