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Matinfar M, Esfahani MM, Aslany N, Davoodi SH, Parsaei P, Zarei G, Reisi P. Effect of repeated morphine withdrawal on spatial learning, memory and serum cortisol level in mice. Adv Biomed Res 2013; 2:80. [PMID: 24524030 PMCID: PMC3908697 DOI: 10.4103/2277-9175.120868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2012] [Accepted: 09/01/2012] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND One of the serious problems that opioid addicted people are facing is repeated withdrawal syndrome that is accompanying with a significant stress load for addicts. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of repeated withdrawal on spatial learning, memory and serum cortisol levels in morphine-dependent mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS Male NMRI mice received morphine as daily increasing doses for 3 days. After that, the mice underwent one time or repeated spontaneous or pharmacologic (naloxone-precipitated) withdrawal. Then spatial learning and memory were investigated by morris water maze test, and at the end trunk blood samples were collected for measurement of serum cortisol levels. RESULTS The results showed that only repeated spontaneous withdrawal significantly increases escape latency (P < 0.05), and in other models of withdrawal, spatial learning and memory were intact. The results of probe trial were intact in all groups. Radioimmunoassay showed that serum cortisol levels were increased significantly in all models of withdrawal (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01) except the repeated spontaneous withdrawal. CONCLUSION The results showed that short periods of withdrawal syndrome can increase serum cortisol levels; however they do not affect spatial learning and memory. Nevertheless, repeated spontaneous withdrawal can make learning slow.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahdieh Matinfar
- Applied Physiology Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Mahsa Masjedi Esfahani
- Applied Physiology Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Neda Aslany
- Applied Physiology Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Seyyed Hamid Davoodi
- Applied Physiology Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Pouya Parsaei
- Young Researchers Club, Shahrekord Branch Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Ghasem Zarei
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Parham Reisi
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran ; Biosensor Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
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Naloxone does not impair conditioned inhibition of the rabbit’s nictitating membrane response. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013. [DOI: 10.3758/bf03330101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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3
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Hawkins RD, Clark GA, Kandel ER. Cell Biological Studies of Learning in Simple Vertebrate and Invertebrate Systems. Compr Physiol 2011. [DOI: 10.1002/cphy.cp010502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
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Blockade of endogenous opioid neurotransmission enhances acquisition of conditioned fear in humans. J Neurosci 2008; 28:5465-72. [PMID: 18495880 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.5336-07.2008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The endogenous opioid system is involved in fear learning in rodents, as opioid agonists attenuate and opioid antagonists facilitate the acquisition of conditioned fear. It has been suggested that an opioidergic signal, which is engaged through conditioning and acts inhibitory on unconditioned stimulus input, is the source of these effects. To clarify whether blockade of endogenous opioid neurotransmission enhances acquisition of conditioned fear in humans, and to elucidate the neural underpinnings of such an effect, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging in combination with behavioral recordings and a double-blind pharmacological intervention. All subjects underwent the same classical fear-conditioning paradigm, but subjects in the experimental group received the opioid antagonist naloxone before and during the experiment, in contrast to subjects in the control group, who received saline. Blocking endogenous opioid neurotransmission with naloxone led to more sustained responses to the unconditioned stimulus across trials, evident in both behavioral and blood oxygen level-dependent responses in pain responsive cortical regions. This effect was likely caused by naloxone blocking conditioned responses in a pain-inhibitory circuit involving opioid-rich areas such as the rostral anterior cingulate cortex, amygdala, and periaqueductal gray. Most importantly, naloxone enhanced the acquisition of fear on the behavioral level and changed the activation profile of the amygdala: whereas the control group showed rapidly decaying conditioned responses across trials, the naloxone group showed sustained conditioned responses in the amygdala. Together, these results demonstrate that in humans the endogenous opioid system has an inhibitory role in the acquisition of fear.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amelia J Eisch
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390-9070, USA.
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Abstract
Morphine (0.01-10 mg/kg) promoted rapid autonomic learning of discriminative, Pavlovian conditioned heart rate decelerations to tone signals in male and female rabbits, and the higher doses (1-10 mg/kg) promoted decelerative heart rate orienting reflexes to novel tones. Morphine dose dependently reduced heart rate acceleration to signaled shock but had no effect on heart rate acceleration to unsignaled shock. Morphine did not impair retention of cardiac conditioned reflexes, and its U-shaped dose effect, increasing conditioned heart rate discrimination early in training, reappeared in extinction. The authors propose that morphine promotes autonomic learning of preparatory, compensatory reflexes to signaled stressors that reduce their stressful effects. This action may mimic the normal, adaptive function of an endogenous messenger released by the Pavlovian contingency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda L Hernández-Brooks
- Research Service, William Jennings Bryan Dorn Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Columbia, South Carolina 29209-1639, USA
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Li Z, Wu CF, Pei G, Xu NJ. Reversal of morphine-induced memory impairment in mice by withdrawal in Morris water maze: possible involvement of cholinergic system. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2001; 68:507-13. [PMID: 11325406 DOI: 10.1016/s0091-3057(01)00456-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The effects of morphine and morphine withdrawal on memory performance were examined in mice by using Morris water maze task. Morphine-induced memory impairment at the doses of 5 and 10 mg/kg recovered after repeated administration. Oxotremorine, a muscarinic receptor agonist, at the dose of 0.1 mg/kg ip, and physostigmine, a cholinesterase inhibitor, at the dose of 0.1 mg/kg ip, significantly antagonized morphine (10 mg/kg sc)-induced memory impairment in mice. Furthermore, repeated naloxone (0.5 mg/kg ip) attenuated scopolamine (0.2 mg/kg ip)-induced memory impairment. By using escalating doses of morphine for 13 days, morphine-induced memory impairment was continuously maintained. When withdrawal was precipitated by naloxone (5 mg/kg ip), or administration of oxotremorine (0.1 and 0.2 mg/kg ip) or physostigmine (0.05 and 0.1 mg/kg ip), the impairment was completely reversed. These results suggest that morphine-induced memory impairment could be partially due to the inhibition of the central cholinergic activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Z Li
- Department of Pharmacology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 110015, Shenyang, People's Republic of China
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Faulkner HJ, Traub RD, Whittington MA. Anaesthetic/amnesic agents disrupt beta frequency oscillations associated with potentiation of excitatory synaptic potentials in the rat hippocampal slice. Br J Pharmacol 1999; 128:1813-25. [PMID: 10588938 PMCID: PMC1571801 DOI: 10.1038/sj.bjp.0702948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
1. Anaesthetic agents produce disruption in cognitive function typified by reductions in sensory perception and memory formation. Oscillations within the EEG gamma and beta bands have been linked to sensory perception and memory and have been shown to be modified by anaesthetic agents. 2. Synchronous gamma oscillations generated by brief tetanic stimulation in two regions of hippocampal area CA1 in slices in vitro were seen to potentiate excitatory synaptic communication between the areas. This synaptic potentiation, was seen to contribute to a transition from gamma frequency (30 - 70 Hz) to beta frequency (12 - 30 Hz) oscillations. 3. Four drugs having anaesthetic/hypnotic and amnesic properties were tested on this synchronous gamma-induced beta oscillation. Thiopental 10 - 200 microM, Diazepam 0.05 - 1.0 microM, Morphine 10 - 200 microM, and Ketamine 10 - 200 microM were all added to the bathing medium. Each drug markedly disrupted the formation of beta oscillations in a manner consistent with their primary modes of action. Thiopental and morphine disrupted synchrony of gamma oscillations and prevented potentiation of recurrent excitatory potentials measured in stratum oriens (fEPSPs). Neither diazepam, nor ketamine produced such marked changes in synchrony at gamma frequencies or reduction in potentiation of fEPSPs. However, each disrupted expression of subsequent beta oscillation via changes in the magnitude of inhibitory network gamma oscillations and the duration and magnitude of tetanus-induced depolarization respectively. 4. The degree of disruption of fEPSP potentiation correlated quantitatively with the degree of disruption in synchrony between sites during gamma oscillations. The data indicate that synchronous gamma-induced beta oscillations represent a mode of expression of excitatory synaptic potentiation in the hippocampus, and that anaesthetic/amnesic agents can disrupt this process markedly.
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Affiliation(s)
- H J Faulkner
- Imperial College School of Medicine, Cellular & Integrative Biology Section, Sir Alexander Fleming Building, South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ
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Merckelbach H, Arntz A, de Jong P, Schouten E. Effects of endorphin blocking on conditioned SCR in humans. Behav Res Ther 1993; 31:775-9. [PMID: 8257409 DOI: 10.1016/0005-7967(93)90008-i] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
In order to test the hypothesis that low levels of endogenous opioids (endorphins) predispose to strong conditioning effects, female Ss (N = 36) were assigned to a placebo group, a low-dose naltrexone group, or a high-dose naltrexone group and then underwent a classical conditioning procedure. This procedure consisted of an acquisition phase in which all Ss received 5 pairings of a CS+ (neutral picture) and a UCS (100 dB white noise). The CS- (neutral picture) was never followed by a UCS. During extinction, Ss received 4 unreinforced presentations of CS+ and CS-. Throughout the experiment, skin conductance responses (SCRs) to the CSs and UCSs were recorded. Acquisition was successful in that CS+ slides elicited stronger SCRs than CS- slides. However, during acquisition, there was no interaction between drug and differential response (CS+ vs CS-). During extinction, there was no overall remaining effect of conditioning. Again, no evidence was found to suggest that (remaining) effects of conditioning were stronger in the naltrexone treated Ss than in the placebo Ss. If anything, the opposite seemed to be true with especially high-dose naltrexone Ss showing relatively weak conditioning effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Merckelbach
- Department of Mental Health Sciences, Limburg University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
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Shors TJ, Foy MR, Levine S, Thompson RF. Unpredictable and uncontrollable stress impairs neuronal plasticity in the rat hippocampus. Brain Res Bull 1990; 24:663-7. [PMID: 2192774 DOI: 10.1016/0361-9230(90)90005-k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Almost by definition, learning and the effect of stress on learning represent modifications of existing neuronal circuitry. Under some circumstances, this modification can be measured electrophysiologically. One such measure of plasticity is long-term potentiation (LTP), a long-lasting increase in synaptic efficacy following brief exposure to tetanic stimulation. In 1987, Foy et al. reported that hippocampal LTP was impaired by exposure to inescapable shock. We have recent evidence that the impairment in LTP can be prevented by allowing the animal to learn to escape the shock (Shors et al., 1989), indicating that the stress effect is to some extent mediated by "psychological" variables. Regardless of LTP's putative role in learning and memory processes, such a stress-induced decrease in neuronal plasticity is likely to have profound effects on the behaving organism.
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Affiliation(s)
- T J Shors
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles 90089-2520
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Shors TJ, Levine S, Thompson RF. Opioid antagonist eliminates the stress-induced impairment of long-term potentiation (LTP). Brain Res 1990; 506:316-8. [PMID: 2154288 DOI: 10.1016/0006-8993(90)91270-q] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Rats (n = 20) were injected with the opioid antagonist naltrexone and half were exposed to inescapable shock/restraint. Another 20 rats were injected with saline and half were exposed to shock. Neither saline nor naltrexone alone had any effect on hippocampal LTP. A large reduction in LTP was observed in saline rats exposed to shock, while normal LTP developed in the naltrexone rats exposed to shock. Thus, naltrexone eliminated the impairment, and thereby implicated endogenous opioids in the mechanism responsible for the stress-induced impairment of LTP.
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Affiliation(s)
- T J Shors
- University of Southern California, Department of Psychology, Los Angeles 90089
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Schindler CW, White MF, Goldberg SR. Effects of morphine, ethylketocyclazocine, N-allylnormetazocine and naloxone on locomotor activity in the rabbit. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 1990; 101:172-7. [PMID: 2190257 DOI: 10.1007/bf02244122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Locomotor activity was studied in the rabbit following injections of morphine, ethylketocyclazocine and N-allylnormetazocine. All three drugs produced only depression of activity. The opioid antagonist naloxone antagonized the effects of both morphine and ethylketocyclazocine. Naloxone (0.1 mg/kg) did not antagonize the effects of N-allylnormetazocine. Naloxone alone depressed locomotor activity at doses above 0.3 mg/kg. This effect of naloxone was partially antagonized by 0.1 mg/kg ethylketocyclazocine, but not by 0.1 mg/kg morphine. The GABA agonist muscimol (0.1 and 1.0 mg/kg) also did not antagonize the effect of naloxone on locomotor activity. Finally, amphetamine did not produce a great deal of locomotor activation in the rabbit, which may indicate that increasing activity in the rabbit by drug intervention may be inherently difficult. These results indicate that the opioids have effects in the rabbit that are clearly different from those observed in rodents, where morphine and N-allylnormetazocine have been reported to produce locomotor activation, and naloxone typically has little effect. In addition, the effects of the opioids on locomotor activity were clearly distinguishable from their effects on learning in the rabbit. While morphine and ethylketocyclazocine were approximately equipotent in depressing locomotor activity, morphine is much less potent than ethylketocyclazocine in retarding acquisition of the classically conditioned nictitating membrane response in the rabbit.
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15
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Schindler CW, Harvey JA. Use of classical conditioning procedures in behavioral pharmacology. Drug Dev Res 1990. [DOI: 10.1002/ddr.430200205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
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16
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Introini IB, McGaugh JL, Baratti CM. Pharmacological evidence of a central effect of naltrexone, morphine, and beta-endorphin and a peripheral effect of met- and leu-enkephalin on retention of an inhibitory response in mice. BEHAVIORAL AND NEURAL BIOLOGY 1985; 44:434-46. [PMID: 2935140 DOI: 10.1016/s0163-1047(85)90832-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Immediate post-training administration of the central acting opioid receptor antagonist naltrexone (0.01-1.00 mg/kg) facilitated 48-h retention of a one-trial inhibitory avoidance task. An inverted-U dose-response curve was obtained. In this dose range naltrexone did not significantly affect response latencies of mice not given a footshock during the training. However, higher doses of naltrexone (3.0 and 10.0 mg/kg) increased latencies of both shocked and unshocked mice. The peripheral-acting opioid receptor blocker, naltrexone methyl bromide (MR 2263) (0.01-10.00 mg/kg), did not significantly influence retention latencies of either shocked or unshocked mice. Further, MR 2263 (0.1, 1.0, or 10.0 mg/kg) did not block the retention impairment produced by concurrently administered morphine (3.0 mg/kg) or beta-endorphin (0.1 microgram/kg). These findings indicate that the effect of these agonists on memory are not due to a peripheral influence. However, MR 2263 does prevent the memory-impairing effect of both metenkephalin (1.0 microgram/kg) and leu-enkephalin (0.3 microgram/kg) on retention. Those results suggest that enkephalins affect retention through influences initiated peripherally. Thus, different sites and mechanisms of action for beta-endorphin and the enkephalins are proposed.
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17
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The role of emotions in a systems view of depression. Behav Brain Sci 1985. [DOI: 10.1017/s0140525x00021191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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18
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Stress and depression: Anything new? Behav Brain Sci 1985. [DOI: 10.1017/s0140525x00021221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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19
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Stress and depression: Definitional problems. Behav Brain Sci 1985. [DOI: 10.1017/s0140525x0002118x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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20
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Depression and adaptation to stress: Toward a systems model. Behav Brain Sci 1985. [DOI: 10.1017/s0140525x00021208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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21
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More stress. Behav Brain Sci 1985. [DOI: 10.1017/s0140525x00021233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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22
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Learned helplessness, human depression, and perhaps endorphins? Behav Brain Sci 1985. [DOI: 10.1017/s0140525x00021166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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23
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Neurochemistry and psychological “diseases”. Behav Brain Sci 1985. [DOI: 10.1017/s0140525x00021178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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Oliver CG, Berry SD. Morphine-induced disruption of behavioral but not hippocampal conditioned responses during appetitive classical conditioning. Ann N Y Acad Sci 1985; 444:525-7. [PMID: 3860117 DOI: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1985.tb37634.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
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Schindler CW, Gormezano I, Harvey JA. Effects of morphine and LSD on the classically conditioned nictitating membrane response. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 1985; 22:41-6. [PMID: 3975246 DOI: 10.1016/0091-3057(85)90483-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Two experiments were carried out to determine the effects of LSD and morphine on the unconditioned nictitating membrane response of the rabbit elicited by 5 intensities of a 100 msec puff of air directed at the cornea, and on the acquisition of conditioned responses to a tone and light conditioned stimulus using the air-puff as an unconditioned stimulus. In Experiment 1, LSD tartrate (0.013 mg/kg) had no effect of the frequency, amplitude, magnitude or latency of the unconditioned response. However, LSD significantly enhanced the rate of acquisition of conditioned responses to both tone and light conditioned stimuli. In Experiment 2, morphine sulfate (5 mg/kg) had no effect on the frequency, amplitude, magnitude or latency of the unconditioned response, but significantly retarded the acquisition of conditioned responses to both tone and light conditioned stimuli. The results indicated that the enhancement of acquisition produced by LSD and the retardation of acquisition produced by morphine were not due to effects of the drugs on either the sensory processing of the air-puff unconditioned stimulus or on the motoric expression of the unconditioned response.
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Lavond DG, Lincoln JS, McCormick DA, Thompson RF. Effect of bilateral lesions of the dentate and interpositus cerebellar nuclei on conditioning of heart-rate and nictitating membrane/eyelid responses in the rabbit. Brain Res 1984; 305:323-30. [PMID: 6744069 DOI: 10.1016/0006-8993(84)90438-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
It has been shown that unilateral lesions of the medial dentate/lateral interpositus nuclear region of the cerebellum abolish the learned nictitating membrane (NM)/eyelid response of the eye ipsilateral to the lesion. The present study examined the effects of bilateral cerebellar lesions on acquisition of heart-rate conditioning (often viewed as a measure of 'conditioned fear') and both its short-and long-term effects on NM/eyelid learning and relearning. The results demonstrate that cerebellar lesions that completely and permanently abolish acquisition or retention of the somatic response (NM/eyelid) bilaterally have no effect on heart-rate conditioning. The neuronal circuits necessary for learning of the heart-rate response and for learning of the adaptive somatic response are thus in significant part different. Results are tentatively interpreted within the context of a two-process theory of aversive learning: an initial phase indexed by conditioned autonomic and 'non-specific' responses such as heart-rate and a subsequent phase of learning the specific adaptive responses.
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Clark GA, McCormick DA, Lavond DG, Thompson RF. Effects of lesions of cerebellar nuclei on conditioned behavioral and hippocampal neuronal responses. Brain Res 1984; 291:125-36. [PMID: 6697177 DOI: 10.1016/0006-8993(84)90658-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 227] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Rabbits were overtrained using classical conditioning of the rabbit nictitating membrane (NM)/eyelid response. Unilateral electrolytic lesions were then made through electrodes previously implanted in dentate and interpositus cerebellar nuclei ipsilateral to the trained (left) eye. Lesions caused a complete or near-complete abolition of conditioned behavioral responses on the ipsilateral side, but had no effect on unconditioned responses to corneal airpuff. When training was switched to the contralateral (right) side, animals learned within the first few trials, but did not relearn when training was returned to the left (lesioned) side. Control animals in which lesions spared the deep nuclei showed no such learning deficits. Lesions of cerebellar nuclei also abolished conditioned increases in hippocampal CAl neural activity evoked by the tone conditioned stimulus in this paradigm. As with the behavior, training on the right (non-lesioned) side reinstated the conditioned neuronal response within the first few trials of training, even though behavioral responding on lesioned side showed little or no improvement. These results indicate that the cerebellum is an essential structure for the behavioral expression of learning, and plays an important role in the generation of conditioned hippocampal responses observed in this paradigm.
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Schindler CW, Gormezano I, Harvey JA. Sensory and associative effects of morphine and naloxone in classical conditioning of the rabbit nictitating membrane response. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 1984; 83:114-21. [PMID: 6429695 DOI: 10.1007/bf00427434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
In Experiment I, classical conditioning of the rabbit's nictitating membrane response was accomplished by the pairing of tone and light conditioned stimuli with a shock unconditioned stimulus applied to the paraorbital region of the head. Morphine (5 mg/kg) significantly retarded the acquisition of conditioned responses to both conditioned stimuli. Moreover, morphine had no effect on nonassociative responding (baseline responding or responding to tone and light stimuli) or on the latency and amplitude of the unconditioned response elicited by shock during the explicitly unpaired presentations of tone, light and shock stimuli. The retardant effect of morphine on acquisition of conditioned responses was blocked by naloxone (1 mg/kg). In Experiment II, morphine (0.2-10 mg/kg) had no effect on the intensity threshold of the shock unconditioned stimulus for elicitation of unconditioned responses or on the latencies of the elicited responses. However, morphine (5 and 10 mg/kg) did produce a small but significant decrease in the amplitude of unconditioned responses elicited by the two highest shock intensities employed (3 and 4 mA). This latter effect of morphine was completely blocked by naloxone (1 mg/kg). In Experiment III, morphine (5 mg/kg) blocked the sensory processing of a tone conditioned stimulus, in previously trained animals, as measured by a significant (24 dB) elevation in the intensity threshold of the conditioned stimulus for elicitation of conditioned responses and an increase in the latency of the elicited response. Naloxone (1 mg/kg) completely blocked the effects of morphine on the sensory processing of the tone-conditioned stimulus.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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Lavond DG, Mauk MD, Madden J, Barchas JD, Thompson RF. Abolition of conditioned heart-rate responses in rabbits following central administration of [N-MePhe3, D-Pro4] morphiceptin. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 1983; 19:379-82. [PMID: 6634886 DOI: 10.1016/0091-3057(83)90069-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Rabbits were initially habituated to a tone and then give 15-20 paired trials where the tone was followed by periorbital shock resulting in conditioned heart-rate decelerations to tone onset and an acceleration of heart-rate following shock offset. The animals were matched for learning performance and divided into two groups. Each animal received a microinfusion into the region of the fourth ventricle of either the opiate [N-MePhe3,D-Pro4] morphiceptin, a highly selective mu receptor agonist, or a mixture of the morphiceptin analogue and the opiate antagonist naltrexone. Administration of the morphiceptin analogue eliminated the conditioned bradycardia to the tone but not the acceleration to the shock. Rabbits given the mixture continued to show conditioned heart-rate decelerations. Previous studies have shown that opiates abolish a recently learned conditioned nictitating membrane response. These effects are consistent with the hypothesis that the opiate effect on conditioning is due to an attenuation of conditioned fear.
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30
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McCormick DA, Lavond DG, Thompson RF. Neuronal responses of the rabbit brainstem during performance of the classically conditioned nictitating membrane (NM)/eyelid response. Brain Res 1983; 271:73-88. [PMID: 6883122 DOI: 10.1016/0006-8993(83)91366-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Through the use of a chronic microdrive recording system, neuronal unit activity was recorded throughout the brainstem of the rabbit during performance of the classically conditioned nictitating membrane (NM) extension/eyeblink response using an acoustical conditioned stimulus (CS) and a corneal airpuff unconditioned stimulus (UCS). Regions which exhibited neuronal responses near the onset of the learned response were found to be relatively localized to: the abducens, accessory abducens, and facial nuclei (the motoneurons known to innervate the muscles responsible for expression of the conditioned response); the sensory nuclei of the fifth (probably representing somatosensory or proprioceptive feedback from the conditioned response); the superior colliculus; the periaqueductal gray; various reticular regions and the brainstem nuclei directly connected with the cerebellum (pontine nuclei, tegmental reticular nucleus (Bechterew), red nucleus, and perhaps the inferior olive). Stimulus (tone-airpuff) evoked responses were found within all classical auditory nuclei of the brainstem; the superior colliculus; the periaqueductal gray; pontine nuclei; fifth sensory nuclei, and various reticular regions. Recent lesion studies have shown the ipsilateral cerebellum to be essential for the learning and retention of this response. Collectively these results indicate that the cerebellum and its related brainstem nuclei are critically involved in the control and production of the classically conditioned NM/eyeblink response and may contain essential long term neuronal changes--the 'memory trace'--which serves to encode this learned response.
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Mauk MD, Castellano TG, Rideout JA, Madden J, Barchas JD, Thompson RF. Overtraining reduces morphine abolition of classically conditioned responses. Physiol Behav 1983; 30:493-5. [PMID: 6867147 DOI: 10.1016/0031-9384(83)90158-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
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Mauk MD, Madden J, Barchas JD, Thompson RF. Opiates and classical conditioning: selective abolition of conditioned responses by activation of opiate receptors within the central nervous system. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 1982; 79:7598-602. [PMID: 6296841 PMCID: PMC347388 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.79.23.7598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
It has previously been shown that opiates produce selective abolition of aversively motivated classically conditioned responses in the rabbit. The experiments reported here show that these effects are mediated by specific activation of opiate receptors within the central nervous system in that this central activation is both necessary and sufficient to produce opiate-induced abolition of conditioned responding. Further characterization suggests that selective activation through opiate-mu-receptor interactions within the periaqueductal gray/periventricular region of the fourth ventricle may be critical in mediating this abolition.
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