Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Comparison of the effects of morphine, pentazocine, cyclazocine and amphetamine on intracranial self-stimulation in the rat

  • Published:
Psychopharmacologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Rats were trained to press a lever in order to stimulate their lateral hypothalamus through a chronically implanted electrode. Dose-response curves were determined for the effects of morphine (0.3–10 mg/kg), pentazocine (1.0–30 mg/kg), cyclazocine (0.03–3.0 mg/kg) and d-amphetamine (0.1–3.0 mg/kg) on responding for intracranial stimulation, and then were redetermined in the presence of one or two doses of naloxone. The three analgesics produced only dose-related decreases in responding with the following relative potencies: cyclazocine>morphine>pentazocine. The well-documented rate-increasing effects of d-amphetamine on intracranial self-stimulation were observed at 0.3 and 1.0 mg/kg of the drug; decreases in responding at 3.0 mg/kg were associated with stereotyped behavior. Naloxone, which had no effect of its own on self-stimulation, increased the dose of the analgesics required to depress response rate in a manner consistent with a competitive antagonism. In contrast, response rates were reduced at all doses of d-amphetamine tested in the presence of naloxone. Thus, the interaction between naloxone and d-amphetamine is qualitatively different from the one between naloxone and the analgesics. This finding extends to intracranial self-stimulation the generality of a previous report of interactions between d-amphetamine and naloxone on behavior in the rat.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adams, W. J., Lorens, S. A., Mitchell, C. L.: Morphine enhances lateral hypothalamic self-stimulation. Proc. Soc. exp. Biol. (N.Y.) 140, 770–771 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Blumberg, H., Wolf, P. S., Dayton, H. B.: Use of writhing test for evaluating analgesic activity of narcotic antagonists. Proc. Soc. exp. Biol. (N.Y.) 118, 763–766 (1965)

    Google Scholar 

  • Edwards, A. L.: Experimental design in psychological research. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston 1968

    Google Scholar 

  • Glick, S. D., Rapaport, G.: Tolerance to the facilitatory effect of morphine on self-stimulation of the medial forebrain bundle of rats. Res. Comm. Chem. Path. Pharmacol. 9, 647–652 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldstein, A., Aronow, L., Kalman, S. M.: Principles of drug action: The basis of pharmacology. New York: John Wiley & Sons 1974

    Google Scholar 

  • Holtzman, S. G.: Tolerance to the stimulant effects of morphine and pentazocine on avoidance responding in the rat. Psychopharmacologia (Berl.) 39, 23–37 (1974a)

    Google Scholar 

  • Holtzman, S. G.: Behavioral effects of separate and combined administration of naloxone and d-amphetamine. J. Pharmacol. exp. Ther. 189, 51–60 (1974b)

    Google Scholar 

  • Holtzman, S. G., Jewett, R. E.: Some actions of pentazocine on behavior and brain monoamines in the rat. J. Pharmacol. exp. Ther. 181, 346–356 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Holtzman, S. G., Jewett, R. E.: Stimulation of behavior in the rat by cyclazocine: Effects of naloxone. J. Pharmacol. exp. Ther. 187, 380–390 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kosterlitz, H. W., Lord, J. A. H., Watt, A. J.: Morphine receptor in the myenteric plexus of the guinea pig ileum. In: Agonist and antagonist actions of narcotic analgesic drugs. H. W. Kosterlitz, H. O. J. Collier, and J. E. Villarreal, eds., pp. 45–61. Baltimore: University Park Press 1973

    Google Scholar 

  • Kosterlitz, H. W., Watt, A. J.: Kinetic parameters of narcotic agonists and antagonists, with particular reference to N-allylnoroxymorphone (naloxone). Brit. J. Pharmacol. 33, 266–276 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mitchell, C. L., Lorens, S. A.: Influence of morphine on lateral hypothalamic self-stimulation in the rat. Psychopharmacologia (Berl.) 32, 271–277 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Olds, J., Travis, R. P.: Effects of chlorpromazine, meprobamate, pentobarbital and morphine on self-stimulation. J. Pharmacol. exp. Ther. 128, 397–404 (1960)

    Google Scholar 

  • Pellegrino, L. J., Cushman, A. J.: A stereotaxic atlas of the rat brain. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts 1967

    Google Scholar 

  • Stein, L.: Self-stimulation of the brain and the central stimulant action of amphetamine. Fed. Proc. 23, 836–850 (1964)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wauquier, A., Niemegeers, J. E., Lal, H.: Differential antagonism by naloxone of inhibitory effects of haloperidol and morphine on brain self-stimulation. Psychopharmacologia (Berl.) 37, 303–310 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacology, Emory University, 30322, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

    Stephen G. Holtzman

Authors
  1. Stephen G. Holtzman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Publication No. 1303 of the Division of Basic Health Sciences of Emory University. This investigation was supported by USPHS Grant DA-00541.

Recipient of Research Scientist Development Award K02-DA00008.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Holtzman, S.G. Comparison of the effects of morphine, pentazocine, cyclazocine and amphetamine on intracranial self-stimulation in the rat. Psychopharmacologia 46, 223–227 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00421106

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00421106

Key words

Search

Navigation