U. Kratzer et Wj. Schmidt, THE ANTI-CRAVING DRUG ACAMPROSATE INHIBITS THE CONDITIONED PLACE AVERSION INDUCED BY NALOXONE-PRECIPITATED MORPHINE-WITHDRAWAL IN RATS, Neuroscience letters, 252(1), 1998, pp. 53-56
The anti-craving drug acamprosate (Ca N-acetylhomotaurinate) is therap
eutically used to prevent a relapse in weaned alcoholics. In the prese
nt place conditioning study, the effect of this compound on the motiva
tional impact of morphine withdrawal was examined. Withdrawal was prec
ipitated in rats by administration of the opioid antagonist naloxone (
0.1 mg/kg, s.c.) 5-6 days after the subcutaneous implantation of a 75
mg morphine pellet. Aversion against the naloxone-paired cues was obse
rved after conditioning in the drug-free state. The acquisition oi con
ditioned place aversion was completely inhibited by the pretreatment w
ith acamprosate (200 mg/kg, i.p.) 12 h and 30 min prior to conditionin
g. These results clarify that acamprosate inhibits the motivational co
mponent of morphine withdrawal and suggest that ethanol and opiates sh
are similar properties in the neuronal mechanisms of conditioned withd
rawal and craving. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. Ali rights r
eserved.