The effects of divalent ions on morphine analgesia and abstinence syndrome in morphine-tolerant and-dependent mice

Intracerebral administration of copper sulfate potentiated morphine analgesia in morphinetolerant and-dependent mice. The stereotyped jumping response, precipitated by naloxone, was inhibited by copper in morphine-dependent mice, but copper failed to affect other abstinence signs. When abstinence was precipitated with a partial antagonist, nalorphine, stereotyped jumping was not inhibited by either calcium or copper. These modification of narcotic effects by copper were produced without alterations in the brain disposition of morphine. Total radioactivity in the brain following radioactive naloxone administration was also not altered.     

Effects of glycine, β-alanine and diazepam upon morphine-tolerant-dependent mice*

The effects in mice of glycine, β-alanine and diazepam on the analgesic response to morphine, on the intensity of tolerance and on the physical dependence on the analgesic have been examined. The two amino acids increased the analgesic response to morphine in a doserelated manner. However, both compounds were ineffective in the analgesic test (hot plate) when administered without morphine. Diazepam was ineffective in the analgesic test and it did not alter morphine analgesia, except when administered in a high dose which decreased and analgesic response. Glycine, either in single or repeated doses, did not modify tolerance to morphine, whereas β-alanine induced a dose-related partial antagonism, which promptly reached a plateau. Diazepam induced a small decrease in the intensity of tolerance to the analgesic. The abstinence syndrome to morphine, induced by naloxone administration to primed mice, was reduced by single doses of glycine or β-alanine. Diazepam behaved as a weak inhibitor of the abstinence syndrome when administered at a high dose. The potentiation of morphine analgesia and the antagonism of the abstinence syndrome induced by the amino acids may be related to their hyperpolarizing action in the c.n. system. The effects of β-alanine on morphine tolerance cannot be explained by the same mechanism.     

Effects of glycine, beta-alanine and diazepam upon morphine-tolerant-dependent mice

The effects in mice of glycine, beta-alanine and diazepam on the analgesic response to morphine, on the intensity of tolerance and on the physical dependence on the analgesic have been examined. The two amino acids increased the analgesic response to morphine in a dose-related manner. However, both compounds were ineffective in the analgesic test (hot plate) when administered without morphine. Diazepam was ineffective in the analgesic test and it did not alter morphine analgesia, except when administered in a high dose which decreased and analgesic response. Glycine, either in single or repeated doses, did not modify tolerance to morphine, whereas beta-alanine induced a dose-related partial antagonism, which promptly reached a plateau. Diazepam induced a small decrease in the intensity of tolerance to the analgesic. The abstinence syndrome to morphine, induced by naloxone administration to primed mice, was reduced by single doses of glycine or beta-alanine. Diazepam behaved as a weak inhibitor of the abstinence syndrome when administered at a high dose. The potentiation of morphine analgesia and the antagonism of the abstinence syndrome induced by the amino acids may be related to their hyperpolarizing action in the c.n. system. The effects of beta-alanine on morphine tolerance cannot be explained by the same mechanism.     

Behavioral effects of morphine and naloxone following chronic morphine administration

The effects of morphine, naloxone, and combinations of these drugs were examined in squirrel monkeys under shock-postponement schedules. In the absence of a lever press, shocks could be presented every 4s, and each response postponed shock for 20s. Acutely, morphine (0.10–3.00 mg/kg) produced not only overall response-rate decreases, but also increases in the number of shocks, whereas naloxone (0.10–30.00 mg/kg) had little effect on responding. When given in combination with morphine, several doses of naloxone antagonized the rate-reducing and shock-increasing effects of morphine. Daily administration of morphine resulted in a substantial decrease in the number of shocks received and a moderate attenuation of the rate-decreasing effects of morphine (tolerance). Lower doses substituted for the fixed daily dose resulted in a smaller effect on behavior than under acute administration. Naloxone given in combination with the daily morphine dose or substituted for the daily administration of morphine, produced effects similar to those seen prior to chronic drugging. Thus, behavioral effects of naloxone were not altered even though tolerance to morphine was observed. Larger doses of naloxone continued to antagonize the effects of morphine for at least 24h. No signs of physical dependence were noted when naloxone was administered or when administration of morphine ended.     

Intensification and attenuation of morphine dependence by D-aspartic acid and PLG

The inhibition by opiates and the sudden normalization by opioid antagonists of the brain L-asparaginase activity (BAA) have previously been reported to be the main factors in the development of physical dependence and the manifestation of precipitated abstinence syndrome, respectively. As a result, L-asparaginase inhibitors D-aspartic acid and prolyl-leucyl-glycinamide (PLG) were separately given to mice and rats either just after morphine (M)-containing pellet implantation or 15 min before naloxone (NL)-precipitated abstinence syndrome. The animals treated in this manner were used to assess the intensity of the physical dependence and to determine the BAA. D-ASP or PLG administration following pellet implantation significantly increased all of the observed signs such as flying, jumping, wet dog shake and writhing. When D-ASP or PLG were given 15 min before precipitated abstinence they significantly decreased the number of the signs. The determination of the BAA showed significant decreases or increases more or less parallel to the severity of the physical dependence on M. The intensification of physical dependence by D-ASP or PLG given just after the pellet implantation was attributed to their additional inhibitory effect to that of M on the BAA at the beginning of the physical dependence development. The attenuating effect of BAA inhibitors D-ASP or PLG administered before precipitated abstinence was explained with the prevention of the increase in the BAA.     

Effect of morphine and naloxone on intestinal transit in mice

Morphine caused a dose-dependent slowing of the rate of intestinal transit in mice. This inhibitory effect of morphine was antagonised by naloxone administration. Pretreatment with a single dose of morphine did not induce any detectable tolerance to the inhibitory effect of a second dose of morphine given 5 h later. However, naloxone was more effective in antagonising this inhibitory effect of morphine-pretreated mice than in saline-pretreated animals. Molecular sieve morphine pellet implantation for 24 h induced detectable tolerance to the inhibitory effect of morphine administered 3 h after removal of the pellet. In addition, the antagonistic effect of naloxone was also augmented when compared with blank pellet-implanted control animals. The present study has shown that the enhanced naloxone potency against the inhibitory effect of morphine on intestinal transit was observable before the development of overt tolerance, and that tolerance to the effect of morphine on the small intestine could be induced by implantation of a molecular sieve morphine pellet for 24 h.     

Effects of ethylenediamine on morphine analgesia and tolerance-dependence in mice

Ethylenediamine, a GABA receptor agonist induced a small hyperalgesic state in mice, but increased morphine analgesia. The interaction with this morphine effect was not dose-dependent. Ethylenediamine significantly antagonized tolerance development at relatively low doses (5-10 mg/kg). The GABA mimetic agent increased the frequency of abstinence signs in the naloxone-precipitated morphine withdrawal in mice. The effect of ethylenediamine on morphine withdrawal was suppressed by the irreversible GABA transaminase inhibitor, gamma-vinyl GABA.     

咪唑克生对吗啡镇痛、耐受和身体依赖的影响

目的:观察咪唑克生对吗啡镇痛及吗啡所致耐受和躯体依赖的影响.方法:采用小鼠醋酸扭体实验和55℃热板实验观察咪唑克生对基础痛阈及吗啡镇痛作用的影响;采用小鼠热辐射甩尾实验和小鼠55℃热板实验观察咪唑克生对吗啡耐受形成过程的影响;采用大鼠、小鼠身体依赖模型观察咪唑克生对吗啡所致身体依赖的影响.结果:咪唑克生(3-9mg/kg)能显著降低小鼠基础痛阈,抑制吗啡镇痛;加重吗啡所致耐受;诱发大、小鼠发生戒断综合征.结论:咪唑啉受体参与痛阈形成;咪唑克生能抑制吗啡镇痛,加重吗啡所致耐受;并诱发吗啡依赖性动物发生戒断综合征.     

利鲁唑对吗啡镇痛、耐受和依赖作用的影响(英文)

目的　研究利鲁唑对阿片镇痛、耐受及躯体功能的调节。方法　采用冰醋酸扭体 ,5 5℃热板法和热辐射甩尾法观察利鲁唑对小鼠痛阈及吗啡镇痛效应的影响 ;采用小鼠急性和慢性吗啡耐受模型及小鼠吗啡依赖模型 ,观察利鲁唑对吗啡耐受和依赖的作用。结果　单独皮下注射利鲁唑 2 .5～ 10mg·kg- 1在以上 3种模型无镇痛作用 ,然而能剂量依赖性地增强吗啡镇痛效应。利鲁唑 2 .5～ 10mg·kg- 1剂量依赖性地对抗吗啡引起的急性和慢性耐受。在小鼠吗啡依赖模型中 ,利鲁唑 2 .5～ 10mg·kg- 1剂量依赖性地抑制吗啡戒断症状的产生。结论　利鲁唑自身无镇痛作用 ,但能显著增强吗啡镇痛效应 ,并能预防吗啡所引起的耐受和依赖     

Modification of morphine-induced analgesia, tolerance and dependence by bromocriptine

The effect of two doses of bromocriptine, a dopamine agonist, on morphine-induced analgesia, tolerance and dependence was investigated in mice. Bromocriptine at doses of 0.04 and 0.08 mg/kg did not affect the baseline tail flick latency of mice but potentiated the morphine analgesia. Pretreatment of mice with 5 mg/kg of sulpiride, a D-2 antagonist, not only blocked the effect of 0.08 mg/kg of bromocriptine but also antagonized the morphine analgesia. Control animals given daily injections of 10 mg/kg of morphine rapidly developed tolerance to the analgesic effect. A combined treatment of bromocriptine with morphine given daily suppressed the development of tolerance to morphine analgesia. However, development of tolerance to morphine analgesia was not significantly modified in the animals treated daily with bromocriptine (0.08 mg/kg) plus sulpiride (5 mg/kg). Acute dependence was induced by the administration of 100 mg/kg of morphine. The administration of bromocriptine 30 min before naloxone significantly decreased the ED₅₀ value for naloxone for inducing jumping in mice. Coadministration of sulpiride and bromocriptine attenuated the ability of bromocriptine to potentiate the withdrawal syndrome of morphine dependence. The results indicate that bromocriptine potentiates morphine analgesia, suppresses the development of tolerance to morphine analgesia but exacerbates opiate withdrawal signs in morphine-dependent mice. These effects of bromocriptine appear to be mediated via D-2 receptors.     

Differential modification of morphine and methadone dependence by interferon alpha

Subcutaneous implantation of a pellet of methadone was presented as a novel method for the establishment of physical dependence upon this agent and it was compared to (1) the state of physical dependence induced by multiple injections of methadone, administered over several days, and (2) the dependence established by injections of morphine and the implantation of a morphine pellet. Comparable signs of drug dependence were observed in rats treated with both morphine and methadone following the administration of the opiate antagonist naloxone. The administration of interferon-alpha significantly attenuated the severity of the withdrawal syndrome in dependent rats after chronic exposure to morphine and to a lesser extent after morphine and methadone in combination. In contrast, alpha interferon did not affect 6 of the 7 abstinence signs in animals dependent upon methadone alone. The observations suggest that the states of physical dependence upon morphine and methadone may be separate phenomena that involve different physiological mechanisms. Thus, interferon may be a useful adjunct in the treatment of subjects dependent upon morphine but not in those dependent on methadone.     

Influence of prazosin and clonidine on morphine analgesia,tolerance and withdrawal in mice

Rapid development of tolerance and dependence limits the usefulness of morphine in long-term treatment. We examined the effects of clonidine (₂-adrenoceptor agonist) and prazosin (₁-adrenoceptor antagonist) on morphine analgesia, tolerance and withdrawal. Morphine tolerance was induced using a 3-day cumulative twice-daily dosing regimen with s.c. doses up to 120 mg/kg. Tolerance was assessed on day 4, as loss of the antinociceptive effect of a test dose of morphine (5 mg/kg). After 10 h, morphine withdrawal was precipitated with naloxone (1 mg/kg). Prazosin had no analgesic effect alone but dose-dependently potentiated morphine analgesia in morphine-naive mice. Another ₁-adrenoceptor antagonist, corynanthine, had similar effects. Prazosin also increased the analgesic potency of the morphine test dose in morphine-tolerant mice. Naloxone-precipitated vertical jumping was not affected, but weight loss was reduced by prazosin. Acutely administered clonidine potentiated morphine analgesia and alleviated opioid withdrawal signs, as expected. We conclude that in addition to the already established involvement of ₂-adrenoceptors in opioid actions, also ₁-adrenoceptors have significant modulatory role in opioid analgesia and withdrawal.     

Effects of NRGC-lesion on the rates of the development of morphine tolerance and dependence in rats

The development of tolerance to and dependence on morphine over 1-8 days treatment with morphine were studied with time in rats in which the nucleus reticularis gigantocellularis (NRGC), including the nucleus reticularis paragigantocellularis, were electrically destructed. The NRGC of SD male rats was bilaterally lesioned (DC, 0.5 mA, 40 sec), and morphine analgesia was estimated by the tail flick method. Morphine analgesia in NRGC-destructed rats (D-rat) was reduced to about 50% of that in sham-operated rats (S-rat). The dose of morphine to produce equi-analgesia increased 2-21.8 times during 1-8 days treatment with morphine in S-rat. Throughout this period, ratios of the equi-analgesic dose in D-rat to that in S-rat were almost the same, i.e., the rate of tolerance development to morphine analgesia in D-rat was to the same degree as that in S-rat. Administration of naloxone after 1-6 days treatment with morphine elicited body weight loss and increase in plasma corticosterone (Pcs), degrees of which were dependent on the dose of naloxone or the period of morphine treatment. No difference in these abstinence signs were detected between S- and D-rat, i.e., the rate of development of dependence on morphine in D-rat was to the same degree as that in S-rat. These results suggest that the NRGC participates in the development of morphine analgesia, but does not participate in the development of tolerance to and dependence on morphine.     

Opiate withdrawal signs precipitated by naloxone following a single exposure to morphine: potentiation with a second morphine exposure

Recent studies in humans with no prior history of opiate abuse indicated that naloxone-precipitated signs of opiate withdrawal could be observed after a single exposure to morphine, and that the severity of withdrawal was enhanced following a second morphine exposure 24 h later. The current study was conducted to establish a paradigm in rodents that resembled these conditions described in humans. To that end, naloxone-precipitated (0.03–3.0 mg/kg) suppression of operant response rates and somatic signs of withdrawal following single or repeated treatments with morphine (5.0 mg/kg) were assessed in previously opiate-naive rats. In one group of rats, naloxone was administered 4 h after both the first and second morphine pretreatment, while in a separate group of rats naloxone was administered 4h after the second morphine pretreatment only. A single morphine pretreatment significantly increased naloxone’s potency to suppress operant response rates, and resulted in the precipitation by naloxone of certain somatic signs of withdrawal. The effects of naloxone on both dependent measures (operant response rates and somatic signs) were potentiated following a second morphine pretreatment, regardless of whether naloxone was administered following both morphine exposures or only following the second morphine exposure. Thus, repeated morphine administration appears to be the critical factor underlying the progressive increase in antagonist potency, whereas prior experience with naloxone is not a necessary factor. The results provide additional support for the hypothesis that the development of dependence on opiates is a progressive phenomenon that may begin with a single dosing. Received: 30 May 1996/Final version: 5 August 1996     

Acamprosate decreases the induction of tolerance and physical dependence in morphine-treated mice

The effects of acamprosate, a drug thought to interact with N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in the central nervous system (CNS), were examined on the antinociceptive action of morphine, induction of tolerance to and physical dependence on morphine, and expression of the abstinence syndrome to the opiate in mice. For the induction of tolerance and dependence, morphine (300 mg/kg) was administered by means of a slow-release preparation. Single doses of acamprosate (50, 100, 200, or 400 mg/kg) administered 30 min before a test dose of morphine did not change the antinociceptive effects of morphine in drug-naive mice. The drug was also administered in repeated doses (50, 100, 200, or 400 mg/kg, 30 min before and 12 and 24 h after the priming dose of morphine) in order to evaluate its effects on the induction of tolerance; all doses assayed, except the 400 mg/kg, did not affect the intensity of tolerance. The acute administration of acamprosate (50, 100, 200, or 400 mg/kg, injected 30 min before naloxone to morphine-pretreated mice) did not affect the intensity of the abstinence behavior. However, the repeated administration of 100 mg/kg of acamprosate (30 min before and 12 and 24 h after the priming dose of morphine) decreased the intensity of physical dependence. The results of these studies suggest that acamprosate may have modulatory effects on glutamatergic neurotransmission participating in the adaptive mechanisms induced by chronic morphine treatment.     

Précipitation et prévention de l'abstinence chez le rat et la souris en état de dépendance aiguë. Comparaison de la naloxone,de la naltrexone et de la diprenorphine

Summary Abstinence signs were precipitated in rats by naloxone (1 mg·kg^-1 s.c.) injected at various times (from 1.5 to 16 h) after a single dose of morphine hydrochloride (15 or 50 mg·kg^-1 s.c.) administered incaqueous solution. Increasing the dose of morphine increased the latency of the phenomena and the duration of the underlying state shifts of signs as described by Bläsig et al. (1974) in chronically morphinized rats also occurred when increasing the dose of morphine and the time interval between the injections of morphine and of naloxone. Naltrexone and diprenorphine were also effective. These three antagonists, given before morphine, were able to prevent precipitated abstinence: however, naloxone was almost ineffective when the higher dose of morphine was used and when the time interval was long. In these latter conditions, naltrexone was definitely more effective and longer acting and diprenorphine still more so. The same characteristics were found for the protective action of the three antagonists in acutely morphinized mice and the same order for their potencies in precipitating abstinence in acutely morphinized mice. Like naloxone, naltrexone and diprenorphine facilitated a nociceptive reaction in normal mice.The abstinence signs precipitated in acutely morphinized rats or mice are probably not unmasked excitatory effects of morphine as such effects should have been increased rather than inhibited by previous administration of specific antagonists; they might correspond to potentiated effects of the antagonists themselves. The prevention by specific antagonists of the abstinence syndrome is most simply interpreted by antagonism (direct or indirect) of dependence induction, but other interpretations are not excluded.

     

Riluzole decreases the abstinence syndrome and physical dependence in morphine-dependent mice.

The effects of the antiglutamatergic agent, riluzole, were examined on the antinociceptive action of morphine, on the induction of physical dependence, and on the expression of the abstinence syndrome to the opiate in mice. Morphine was administered as a single dose (200 mg/kg) of a slow-release preparation. Acute and chronic administration of riluzole decreased the analgesic response to morphine, the intensity of abstinence behavior (administered 30 min before a dose of naloxone), and the development of physical dependence (repeatedly administered during the period of chronic morphine treatment).     

The involvement of alpha 2A-adrenoceptors in morphine analgesia, tolerance and withdrawal in mice

Alpha(2)-adrenoceptor agonists potentiate opioid analgesia and alleviate opioid withdrawal. The effects of two alpha(2)-adrenoceptor agonists, clonidine (2 mg/kg) and dexmedetomidine (20 and 100 microg/kg), and the alpha(1)-adrenoceptor antagonist prazosin (0.5 mg/kg) were tested on morphine analgesia, tolerance, and withdrawal in wild-type and alpha(2A)-adrenoceptor knock-out (KO) mice. Analgesia and tolerance were assessed with the tail-flick test. Withdrawal was precipitated with naloxone. Prazosin potentiated morphine analgesia equally in both genotypes. Clonidine and dexmedetomidine had no analgesic effects in alpha(2A)-adrenoceptor KO mice, but morphine analgesia and tolerance were similar in both genotypes. Alpha(2A)-Adrenoceptor KO mice exhibited 70% fewer naloxone-precipitated jumps than wild-type mice; weight loss was similar in both genotypes. The alpha(2)-adrenoceptor agonists reduced opioid withdrawal signs only in wild-type mice. We conclude that alpha(2A)-adrenoceptors are not directly involved in morphine analgesia and tolerance, and not critical for potentiation of morphine analgesia by prazosin, but that alpha(2A)-adrenoceptors modulate the expression of opioid withdrawal signs in mice.     

Influence of testosterone on morphine analgesia in albino rats

Pain threshold for thermal stimulus after morphine, naloxone alone and naloxone in combination with morphine was studied in male rats before and after three days treatment with testosterone. It was also determined 15 days after gonadectomy and administration of testosterone in such rats. There was significant reduction in morphine analgesia after administration of testosterone and also after gonadectomy. Naloxone increased the pain threshold in gonadectomised rats and it enhanced morphine induced analgesia instead of antagonising it. Naloxone, however, had no effect on morphine analgesia in testosterone treated control rats and gonadectomised rats.     

Opiate-like action of methionine-enkephalin in inhibiting morphine abstinence syndrome

Intracerebroventricular administration of methionine-enkephalin or morphine sulfate immediately prior to naloxone administration inhibited the precipitated withdrawal jumping response in mice rendered dependent on morphine by the pellet implantation method. Both methionine-enkephalin and morphine sulfate failed to inhibit withdrawal defecation and rearing behavior. Morphine sulfate was found to be four times as potent as methionine-enkephalin, on molar basis, in inhibiting the abstinence syndrome. These data provide new in vivo pharmacologic evidence for the opiate-like action of methionine-enkephalin.