Experimental and clinical findings have shown that administration of adrenoceptor antagonists alleviated different aspects of drug withdrawal and dependence. The present study tested the hypothesis that changes in CREB activation and phosphorylated TORC1 levels in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) after naloxone-precipitated morphine withdrawal as well as the HPA axis activity aris...

The effects of ascorbic acid (AA) were investigated on the morphine withdrawal response of guinea-pigs, a species which shares with man the inability to synthesize AA. Chronic pretreatment of guinea-pigs with AA, 1 g/l, in drinking water for 3 days, or AA 200 mg/kg subcutaneously (s.c.) 3 times daily for 3 days, markedly reduced the locomotor and behavioural withdrawal responses of guinea-pigs ...

Morphine-mediated AC activation requires Src kinase, which was postulated to be responsible for morphine tolerance and dependence. Currently, we demonstrated that following long-term morphine treatment and subsequent naloxone precipitation, microglia was activated, which appeared to be obligatory for CD44 expression and production of IL-1beta, iNOS, MCP-1, MIP-1alpha, MIP-1beta, and TNF-alpha. ...

The effect of withdrawal from chronic morphine or amphetamine treatment on dopamine (DA) neurotransmission in the ventral-medial striatum was studied by use of in vivo microdialysis. There was no effect of 24 h of amphetamine withdrawal on the basal concentration of DA in the ventral-medial striatum. Spontaneous morphine withdrawal (24 h) was associated with a significant decrease in the basal ...

Choice procedures have indicated that the relative reinforcing effectiveness of opioid drugs increases during opioid withdrawal. The demand curve, an absolute measure of reinforcer value, has not been applied to this question. The present study assessed whether mild morphine withdrawal would increase demand for or choice of remifentanil or cocaine. Four rhesus monkeys chose between remifentanil...

Both the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the extrahypothalamic brain stress system are key elements of the neural circuitry that regulates the negative states during abstinence from chronic drug exposure. Orexins have recently been hypothesized to modulate the extended amygdala and to contribute to the negative emotional state associated with dependence. This study examined the im...

Objective: Opiate addiction is characterized by compulsive drug use and severe withdrawal symptoms during abstinence. Heantos 4, an herbal pharmacotherapy recently approved for opiate withdrawal treatment in Vietnam, has shown anti-craving properties. The present study is the first preclinical assessment of the effects of Heantos 4 on opiate withdrawal and the rewarding properties of morphine, ...

The clinical use of morphine to reduce pain is limited because of its drug tolerance, dependence and addiction. In the present study, the tree shrews (Tupaia belangeri chinensis) developed morphine tolerance and chronic morphine dependence by morphine injections with increasing doses (5, 10, 15, 20 mg/kg body weight for 7 days). Meanwhile, the naloxone (1.25 mg/kg body weight)-induced condition...

The abstinence syndrome which follows withdrawal of opiates is the prototype of drug withdrawal reaction and is one of the several factors promoting addiction. Although management of this syndrome is but a small part of treatment of an addict, it is nonetheless an important one. Recent studies have shown that a single dose of Clonidine hydrochloi ide (ARKAMIN) relieves signs and symptoms of opi...