Elsevier

Neuroscience Letters

Volume 272, Issue 3, 17 September 1999, Pages 183-186
Neuroscience Letters

Orphanin FQ reduces morphine-induced dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens: a microdialysis study in rats

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0304-3940(99)00579-0Get rights and content

Abstract

The effects induced by orphanin FQ (OFQ) on morphine-induced dopamine (DA), 3,4-dihydroxyphenilacetic acid (DOPAC) and homovanillic acid (HVA) release in the nucleus accumbens were studied in rats by using microdialysis with electrochemical detection. Morphine administered intraperitoneally (i.p., 2, 5 and 10 mg/kg) dose-dependently increased DA and metabolites release in the nucleus accumbens. OFQ intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) administered at doses of 2, 5 and 10 nmol did not change DA and metabolites release in the nucleus accumbens. OFQ (10 nmol) administered i.c.v. 15 min before morphine (5 and 10 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly reduced morphine-induced DA and metabolites release in the nucleus accumbens. These effects suggest that OFQ may regulate the stimulant action linked to morphine-induced DA release in the nucleus accumbens.

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Acknowledgements

We wish to thank P. Devoto and A. Boi, Neuroscience Department University of Cagliari for introducing us to the microdialysis procedure and M. Massotti for his helpful comments and suggestions. We are also grateful to S. Fidanza and A. Urciuoli for their valuable animal care and M. Brocco for the linguistic revision of the manuscript.

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