:: Volume 16, Issue 5 (Bimonthly 2012) ::
Feyz 2012, 16(5): 445-453 Back to browse issues page
Nicotine restores morphine-induced amnesia via activation of dopamine D1 receptors in the nucleus accumbens
Ronak Azizbeigi , Morteza Piri
Islamic Azad University, Ardabil Branch , biopiri@iauardabil.ac.ir
Abstract:   (7711 Views)

Background: Drugs of abuse such as nicotine and morphine produce their effects through the stimulation of the mesolimbic dopaminergic pathway. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the effect of pre-test injection of nicotine on morphine state-dependent learning as well as the effect of intra-nucleus accumbens (NAc) administration of D1 receptor antagonist on nicotine's effects in morphine state-dependent learning model.

Materials and Methods: This experimental study was performed on 200 male rats. Rats were anesthetized with intra-peritoneal injection of ketamine hydrochloride plus xylazine and then placed in a stereotaxic frame. Two stainless-steel cannuale were placed in the NAc shell. The behavioral testing was started using an inhibitory avoidance task and afterwards the step-through latency of entering into the dark compartment was measured as a criterion for the assessment of memory.

Results: Post-training injection of morphine induced amnesia. The post-training morphine-induced amnesia was restored by pre-test administration of the same doses of morphine and also nicotine. Moreover, the pre-test intra-NAc injection of SCH23390 prevented the nicotine reversal of morphine effect on memory.

Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that the dopamine D1 receptor of the NAc may play an important role in improving the effect of nicotine on morphine-induced amnesia.

Keywords: Morphine, Nicotine, Dopamine D1 receptor, Nucleus accumbens, Inhibitory avoidance memory
Full-Text [PDF 297 kb]   (2589 Downloads)    
Type of Study: Research | Subject: medicine, paraclinic
Received: 2012/10/15 | Revised: 2012/10/21 | Published: 2012/10/15


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Volume 16, Issue 5 (Bimonthly 2012) Back to browse issues page