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Naloxone-induced or postwithdrawal abstinence signs in Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol-Tolerant rats

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Abstract

Ten rats were injected s.c. with THC twice daily for 5 weeks in increasing doses. In the last 3 weeks they received 40 mg/kg THC in each administration. Ten control rats received the same amount of vehicle by the same route for the same period. The comparison of rectal temperatures of the first and fifteenth days showed that a very pronounced tolerance developed to the hypothermic effect of THC.

The administration of naloxone on the 22nd and 31st days precipitated an opiatelike abstinence syndrome. The termination of the drug administration on the 35th day also produced a similar withdrawal syndrome.

The most common signs of abstinence syndrome in THC-treated animals were teeth chattering, defecation, urination, dyspnea, and complete palpebral closure. Although the frequency of the incidence of the following signs were not high, they have been observed only in THC-treated animals: chewing, tremors on the face, escape behavior, jumping, eating of objects, biting of fingers, and sniffing.

During abstinence, an increased locomotor activity was recorded by an activity-meter. Similarly, the total amount of excreted feces and urine was higher in the THC group than in the controls. Both abstinence scores and increased motility exhibited the peak in the 48th h of withdrawal.

Some similarities between the effects of THC and morphine have been reviewed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacology, Ankara University Medical School, Sihhiye, Ankara, Turkey

    Şükrü Kaymakçalan, I. Hakki Ayhan & F. Cankat Tulunay

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  1. Şükrü Kaymakçalan
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  2. I. Hakki Ayhan
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  3. F. Cankat Tulunay
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Kaymakçalan, Ş., Ayhan, I.H. & Tulunay, F.C. Naloxone-induced or postwithdrawal abstinence signs in Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol-Tolerant rats. Psychopharmacology 55, 243–249 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00497855

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