Changes in responsiveness to mu and kappa opiates following a series of convulsions.

After a series of seven electroconvulsive shocks, mice (C57BL/6J) showed a marked change in their response to opiates. Although very large doses of mu agonists induce convulsions in normal control mice, our evidence indicated that this was accomplished through nonopiate mechanisms: they could not be blocked by naltrexone and the pattern of drug potencies (codeine greater than morphine greater than levorphanol) was not consistent with an opiate response. In contrast, after electroconvulsive shock small doses of mu agonists induced convulsions that could be blocked by naltrexone and the pattern of drug potency (levorphanol greater than morphine greater than codeine) was consistent with an opiate mechanism. Kappa drugs, on the other hand, produced convulsions in both control and ECS animals, although there was an enhanced responsiveness in the latter. Furthermore, the convulsions produced by kappa drugs were blocked by naltrexone and showed stereoselectivity in both control and ECS animals. The changes in responsiveness to mu and kappa opiates cannot be explained on the basis of a general increase in seizure susceptibility, as sensitivity to the nonopiate convulsant, strychnine, was not enhanced after electroconvulsive shock. The results point to a qualitative change in response to mu agonists after electroconvulsive shock, but only a change in sensitivity to kappa agonists.