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Behavioural effects of a prolonged treatment with small doses of morphine in cats

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Summary

Three cats, conditioned to respond for food in a Skinner-box on an FI schedule of reinforcement, were submitted during 3 months to chronic treatment with daily doses of 0.2 mg/kg morphine hydrochloride. After an initial phase where no effect was observed, the subjects manifested increased responding and a deterioration of timing behaviour. Behavioural tolerance was shown to develop to both effects. Withdrawing the drug resulted in the immediate or progressive suppression of conditioned activity. The findings are discussed by reference to generally accepted conceptions of tolerance and physical dependence.

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Belgian Government UNESCO Fellowship.

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Djahanguiri, B., Richelle, M. & Fontaine, O. Behavioural effects of a prolonged treatment with small doses of morphine in cats. Psychopharmacologia 9, 363–372 (1966). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00406447

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00406447

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