The role of nitric oxide in conditioned place preference induced by morphine in male mice

  The involvement of nitric oxide (NO) in the reinforcing properties of opioids was studied by examining the effect of a NO precursor (L-arginine) and NO synthase inhibitor (L-nitro-amino-methyl-ester, L-NAME) on the conditioned place preference (CPP) induced by morphine. The experiment was performed on male albino Swiss- White mice (25 ± 5 g). L-arginine in doses of 100, 200 and 500 mg/kg (i.p.) decreased CPP significantly, while L-arginine induced CPP in doses of 200 and 500 mg/kg per se. L-NAME doses of 0.75, 1.25, 2.5, 5, 10, 20 and 300 mg/kg (i.p.)had no effect on CPP induced by morphine, but injection of L-NAME (5 mg/kg) significantly decreased the effect of L-arginine on morphine-induced CPP. Therefore it may be concluded that NO may be involved in the psychological dependence to morphine.