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There is much evidence from animal work suggesting that the release of noradrenaline (NA) in the brain increases during naloxone-precipitated morphine withdrawal, but the evidence in favour of changes in release of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and dopamine (DA) is contradictory. Here we demonstrate, using in vivo microdialysis, that whilst there is a considerable increase (300%) in release of NA in hippocampus precipitated by naloxone in morphine-dependent rats, there is no change in the release of either 5-HT (in hippocampus) or DA (in nucleus accumbens). These results are consistent with suggestions that the symptoms of morphine withdrawal in rats are due primarily to an increase in central NA release.

Type

Journal article

Journal

Neuroreport

Publication Date

08/1993

Volume

4

Pages

1043 - 1045

Keywords

Animals, Dialysis, Dopamine, Hippocampus, Male, Morphine, Naloxone, Norepinephrine, Nucleus Accumbens, Rats, Rats, Sprague-Dawley, Serotonin, Substance Withdrawal Syndrome