The effects of intraventricular 6-hydroxydopamine and 5,6-dihydroxytryptamine on morphine induced locomotor stimulation

Changes in locomotor-activity patterns as a measure of spontaneous morphine withdrawal: no effect of clonidine

The anti-withdrawal action of clonidine was studied in a model of spontaneous morphine withdrawal in rats. After withdrawal the behaviour of the animals was registered continuously for several days. In the initial phase of induction of dependence the locomotor activity was enhanced during daytime. Partial tolerance to this increase developed in the course of 3 weeks. In morphine withdrawn animals the activity decreased strongly at night, and this effect was maximal on the second night after removal of morphine. After four nights the nightly activity was restored. Treatment with clonidine (100 micrograms/kg s.c. twice daily) changed neither the observed decrease in nightly locomotor activity nor other withdrawal symptoms such as a decrease in food intake and loss of body weight. In non-dependent animals clonidine induced a biphasic effect in locomotor activity, i.e. a decrease in the first few hours of the night and an increase in the second part of the night. The latter can be interpreted as a rebound phenomenon occurring after only three injections. It was concluded that clonidine was not effective as an anti-withdrawal compound in a model for spontaneous morphine abstinence. The low incidence of symptoms relating to a hyperactive sympathetic system during spontaneous withdrawal may be an explanation for the absence of an effect of clonidine.

Significance of biogenic amines for opioid-induced locomotor activity in rats

The effect of the opioid levorphanol on locomotor activity was investigated in rats treated with p-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA) or 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA). Acute oral administration of 10 or 30 mg/kg levorphanol induces a time- and dose-dependent alteration in motility. Ingestion of 10 mg/kg levorphanol in rats with an intact biogenic amine content results in an increase of locomotion for 180 min followed by a longer lasting, small but significant, reduction of motor activity. The course of motility after 30 mg/kg is similar to that after 10 mg/kg, but the initial peak appears after a 3-h delay. In 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)-deficient rats, the first excitation of motility is enhanced and its subsequent depression intensified. After administration 30 mg/kg a general reduction in motor activity occurs. The effect of 10 mg/kg levorphanol after 6-OHDA treatment is on a lower level, similar to that of rats with intact amine content. After 30 mg/kg levorphanol an immediate and longer lasting increase in activity appears. Chronic ingestion of about 40 mg/levorphanol/kg per day enhances the total amount of activity in normal rats as well as in animals with catecholamine (CA) depletion, but not in those treated with PCPA. In all cases, withdrawal of the opioid results in a reduction of activity below that of control levels.