Research article summary (published 29 Nov 2007):

Complicated interaction between psychostimulants and morphine in expression of phenotype of behavior in the dopaminergic system of BALB/c mice.

Full Abstract

It is believed that BALB/c mice appear to be less sensitive to the locomotor effects of abused drugs compared to other strains, and several behaviors induced by abused drugs depend on genetic factors. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of the interaction between psychostimulants and morphine on behavior in BALB/c mice. Morphine and cocaine induced hyperlocomotion and hypolocomotion, respectively, while methamphetamine did not affect locomotor activity and high doses of methamphetamine significantly increased self-injurious behavior. Cocaine or methamphetamine increased the effects of morphine on locomotor behavior. Haloperidol (a dopamine-receptor antagonist) attenuated the hyperlocomotion induced by the combination of cocaine or methamphetamine plus morphine. These results indicate that the synergistic effects of methamphetamine or cocaine and morphine on locomotor activity are mediated through enhancement of the dopaminergic system and that combinations of psychostimulants and morphine enhance the locomotor activity in BALB/c mice. On the other hand, morphine completely attenuated methamphetamine-induced self-injurious behavior. Furthermore, a low dose (0.01 mg/kg) of haloperidol significantly increased the effects of methamphetamine and morphine on the locomotor activity. Hyperlocomotion induced by psychostimulants is mediated by the mesolimbic dopaminergic system, whereas stereotyped behaviors is mediated by the nigrostriatal dopaminergic system. Our findings suggest that balances of the activation of dopaminergic neurons (between mesolimbic and nigrostriatal systems) may play an important role to engender corresponding behavioral outcomes in BALB/c mice.

Author information

Author/s: Ito, Shinobu (S); Mori, Tomohisa (T); Namiki, Mizuho (M); Suzuki, Tadashi (T); Sawaguchi, Toshiko (T);

Affiliation: Department of Legal Medicine, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: Journal of pharmacological sciences (J Pharmacol Sci), published in Japan. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2007-Dec; vol 105 (issue 4) : pp 326-33

Dates: Created 2007/12/20; Completed 2008/05/05;

PMID: 18057777, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

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.

Animals Behavior, Animal - drug effects; physiology Central Nervous System Stimulants - administration & dosage; toxicity Cocaine - administration & dosage; toxicity Dopamine - metabolism Dopamine Antagonists - administration & dosage; toxicity Dose-Response Relationship, Drug Drug Synergism Haloperidol - administration & dosage; toxicity Limbic System - cytology; drug effects; metabolism

Limbic System - cytology; drug effects; metabolism Male Methamphetamine - administration & dosage; toxicity Mice Mice, Inbred BALB C Morphine - administration & dosage; toxicity Motor Activity - drug effects; physiology Neurons - cytology; drug effects; metabolism Substantia Nigra - cytology; drug effects; metabolism Time Factors

Associated Chemicals: Central Nervous System Stimulants (0) ; Dopamine Antagonists (0) ; Cocaine (50-36-2) ; Dopamine (51-61-6) ; Haloperidol (52-86-8) ; Methamphetamine (537-46-2) ; Morphine (57-27-2)

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