Z. Li et al., Reversal of morphine-induced memory impairment in mice by withdrawal in Morris water maze - Possible involvement of cholinergic system, PHARM BIO B, 68(3), 2001, pp. 507-513
The effects of morphine and morphine withdrawal on memory performance were
examined in mice by using Morris water maze task. Morphine-induced memory i
mpairment at the doses of 5 and 10 mg/kg recovered after repeated administr
ation 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/k
g ip, significantly antagonized morphine (10 mg/kg sc)-induced memory impai
rment in mice. Furthermore, repeated naloxone (0.5 mg/kg ip) attenuated sco
polamiue (0.2 mg/kg ip)-induced memory impairment. By using escalating dose
s of morphine for 13 days, morphine-induced memory impairment was continuou
sly 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 resul
ts suggest that morphine-induced memory impairment could he partially due t
o the inhibition of the central cholinergic activity. (C) 2001 Elsevier Sci
ence Inc. All rights reserved.