Context-specific morphine withdrawal in rats: duration and effects of clonidine

Behav Neurosci. 1990 Oct;104(5):704-10. doi: 10.1037//0735-7044.104.5.704.

Abstract

Rats previously injected with morphine in a particular environment (paired rats) emitted more withdrawal symptoms in that environment than did rats previously injected with morphine in another environment (unpaired rats) after both 1 day and 5 days of morphine abstinence. Thus, reexposure to an environment previously associated with morphine can elicit context-specific withdrawal even after several days of morphine abstinence. Clonidine (0.06 mg/kg) reduced most of the withdrawal symptoms seen 5 days after morphine abstinence in both the paired and unpaired rats. However, clonidine enhanced many of the withdrawal symptoms in both groups of rats during naltrexone-precipitated withdrawal 1 day after morphine abstinence.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arousal / drug effects
  • Association Learning / drug effects*
  • Clonidine / pharmacology*
  • Male
  • Morphine / pharmacology*
  • Morphine Dependence / psychology*
  • Motor Activity / drug effects
  • Naltrexone / pharmacology
  • Rats
  • Social Environment*
  • Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / psychology*
  • Weight Loss / drug effects

Substances

  • Naltrexone
  • Morphine
  • Clonidine