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Paper   IPM / Cognitive Sciences / 8593
School of Cognitive Sciences
  Title:   Morphine State-Dependent Learning Sensitization and Interaction with Nitric Oxide
  Author(s): 
1.  M.R. Zarrindast
2.  E. Askari
3.  A. Khalighzadeh
4.  N. Nouraei
  Status:   Published
  Journal: PHARMACOLOGY
  Vol.:  78
  Year:  2006
  Pages:   66-71
  Supported by:  IPM
  Abstract:
In the present study, the effects of nitric oxide (NO) precursor L-arginine and L-NAME, a potent inhibitor of NO synthase (NOS), on the expression of sensitization of morphine were investigated. Pre-training administration of morphine (5 mg/kg) impaired memory retrieval compared to pre-training saline-treated animals. Amnesia due to pre-training morphine (5 mg/kg) was restored by pre-test morphine (5 mg/kg). The retrieval impairment was also inhibited in mice which had received once-daily injections of morphine (20 and 30 mg/kg, s.c.) for 3 days, followed by 5 days of no drug treatment before training (in order to induce morphine sensitization). Administration of L-arginine (60 mg/kg/day - 3 days) or L-NAME (20 mg/kg/day - 3 days) before training did not alter morphine state dependency. During acquisition of sensitization, administration of L-arginine (60 mg/kg) 20 min before morphine (10 mg/kg/day, for 3 days) increased, while injection of L-NAME (20 mg/kg) 20 min before morphine (30 mg/kg/day, for 3 days) decreased morphine state dependency. It is concluded that NO is involved in the morphine-induced sensitization.

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