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Potentiated startle and hyperalgesia during withdrawal from acute morphine: effects of multiple opiate exposures

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Abstract

Rationale

Administration of an opiate antagonist following acute morphine exposure elevates the startle response in rodents, a phenomenon that may reflect the anxiogenic effects of withdrawal. Previous acute dependence studies have demonstrated escalated withdrawal severity following multiple withdrawal episodes.

Objectives

To examine the effects of prior opiate exposure on the magnitude of withdrawal-potentiated startle and an additional measure of acute dependence, withdrawal-induced hyperalgesia.

Methods

The effects of repeated naloxone-precipitated morphine withdrawals on acoustic startle responding were evaluated in experiments that varied either the dose of the opiate antagonist (8-day, repeated measures procedure) or agonist (3-day procedure). Additional experiments examined withdrawal-induced hyperalgesia utilizing either a single-day dependence paradigm or the same 3-day procedure as in the startle experiment.

Results

Repeated naloxone-precipitated withdrawals from acute morphine exacerbated withdrawal severity in both startle procedures, although this effect varied biphasically (inverted-U function) with morphine dose in the 3-day dependence paradigm. Withdrawal from a single morphine exposure also induced hyperalgesia, and this effect was intensified by prior withdrawal episodes.

Conclusions

These data demonstrate that repeated withdrawals from acute morphine exacerbate the severity of potentiated startle and hyperalgesia. These paradigms may be useful in examining the neural plasticity underlying the development of opiate dependence.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Darrin Aase, David Atkinson, Annette Kenzler, Mark Liszewski, and Claire Smith for their assistance in conducting the experiments. This work was supported by the National Institute of Drug Abuse T32 DA07097 and the University of Minnesota.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, 75 East River Road, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA

    Andrew C. Harris, Stephanie L. Hanes & Jonathan C. Gewirtz

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  1. Andrew C. Harris
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  2. Stephanie L. Hanes
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  3. Jonathan C. Gewirtz
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Correspondence to Jonathan C. Gewirtz.

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Harris, A.C., Hanes, S.L. & Gewirtz, J.C. Potentiated startle and hyperalgesia during withdrawal from acute morphine: effects of multiple opiate exposures. Psychopharmacology 176, 266–273 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-004-1889-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-004-1889-4

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