Abstract
Aggregation during morphine abstinence elicited social aggression (rearing, vocalization, attack-bites) in the morphine dependent rats. Pretreatment with l-dihydroxyphenylalanine (50 mg/kg), dl-dihydroxyphenylalanine (200 mg/ kg), dextro-amphetamine sulfate (2 mg/kg) or apomorphine hydrochloride (1.25 mg/kg) enhanced that aggression severalfold. Alpha methyl-p-tyrosine (200 mg/kg) abolished the morphine withdrawal aggression that was elicited either by mere aggregation or by aggregation combined with amphetamine. However, alpha methyl-p-tyrosine did not block the aggression in apomorphine treated rats. Haloperidol (0.63–2.5 mg/kg) also blocked the aggression due to mere abstinence or abstinence supersensitized by amphetamine. Similarly, methadone hydrochloride (5–20 mg/kg) blocked morphine withdrawal aggression supersensitized by apomorphine. These data are interpreted to suggest dopaminergic basis of morphine withdrawal aggression and a latent supersensitivity of dopaminergic neuropathways during morphine dependence.
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Puri, S.K., Lal, H. Effect of dopaminergic stimulation or blockade on morphine-withdrawal aggression. Psychopharmacologia 32, 113–120 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00428682
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00428682