Research article summary (published 6 Feb 2007):

Morphine-induced place preference: involvement of cholinergic receptors of the ventral tegmental area.

Full 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.

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Author information

Author/s: Rezayof, Ameneh (A); Nazari-Serenjeh, Farzaneh (F); Zarrindast, Mohammad-Reza (MR); Sepehri, Houri (H); Delphi, Ladan (L);

Affiliation: School of Biology, University College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran. rezayof(-atsign-)khayam.ut.ac.ir

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: European journal of pharmacology (Eur J Pharmacol), published in Netherlands. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2007-May; vol 562 (issue 1-2) : pp 92-102

Dates: Created 2007/04/02; Completed 2007/06/13;

PMID: 17336285, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Analgesics, Opioid - administration & dosage; pharmacology Analysis of Variance Animals Atropine - administration & dosage; pharmacology Behavior, Animal - drug effects Cholinesterase Inhibitors - administration & dosage; pharmacology Conditioning, Operant - drug effects Dose-Response Relationship, Drug Injections, Subcutaneous Male Mecamylamine - administration & dosage; pharmacology

Morphine - administration & dosage; pharmacology Motor Activity - drug effects Muscarinic Antagonists - administration & dosage; pharmacology Nicotine - administration & dosage; pharmacology Nicotinic Agonists - administration & dosage; pharmacology Nicotinic Antagonists - administration & dosage; pharmacology Physostigmine - administration & dosage; pharmacology Rats Rats, Wistar Receptors, Cholinergic - physiology Ventral Tegmental Area - drug effects; physiology

Associated Chemicals: Analgesics, Opioid (0) ; Cholinesterase Inhibitors (0) ; Muscarinic Antagonists (0) ; Nicotinic Agonists (0) ; Nicotinic Antagonists (0) ; Receptors, Cholinergic (0) ; Atropine (51-55-8) ; Nicotine (54-11-5) ; Morphine (57-27-2) ; Physostigmine (57-47-6) ; Mecamylamine (60-40-2)

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