ISSN:
1573-6903
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract Rats were long-term morphine-intoxicated by a fluid-diet model ensuring an equal nutrient intake in morphinized and control rats. Uptake of neurotransmitters and D-ala2-met5-enkephalinamide (Enk) was studied in the particulate fractions (obtained at 10,000g) from well defined brain regions of long-term intoxicated and morphine withdrawn rats. In control animals the accumulation of [3H]glutamate and [3H]γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) reached the highest tissue/medium (T/M) ratio values, 30–120, in the regions studied while monoamine T/M values were 2–10. No active uptake of [3H]Enk could be demonstrated. Striatum showed the most evident modifications in neurotransmitter uptake. In this region the equilibrium T/M ratio for [3H]glutamate and [3H]GABA was significantly lower in intoxicated rats versus controls. Moreover, the T/M ratio for [3H]5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) was lower, while that for [3H]dopamine (DA) was higher in abstinent rats in comparison with the controls. [3H]glutamate and [3H]GABA uptakes were also significantly lower, respectively, in frontal cortex, hippocampus and brain stem in intoxicated rats, while [3H]5-HT uptake was significantly lower in hypothalamus after morphine withdrawal. The possible involvement of the endogenous opioid system in the etiology of the alterations is discussed.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00967978
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