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Selank, a Peptide Analog of Tuftsin, Attenuates Aversive Signs of Morphine Withdrawal in Rats

  • PHARMACOLOGY AND TOXICOLOGY
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Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine Aims and scope

Activity of a peptide tuftsin analogue Selank was studied in outbred rats using the naloxone-precipitated morphine withdrawal model. Single intraperitoneal injection of Selank in an anxiolytic dose of 0.3 mg/kg reduced the total index of morphine withdrawal syndrome by 39.6%, significantly (р<0.0001) attenuated convulsive reactions, ptosis, and posture disorders, and 9-fold increased the tactile sensitivity threshold in morphine-dependent rats in comparison with the group of active control; at the same time, Selank was slightly inferior to diazepam in a dose of 2 mg/kg by pharmacological activity (the decrease in total index of morphine withdrawal syndrome by 49.3% and 13-fold increase in sensitivity threshold). Thus, Selank, like diazepam, weakens the aversive signs of morphine withdrawal in rats with opiate dependence.

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Correspondence to L. G. Kolik.

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Translated from Byulleten’ Eksperimental’noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 173, No. 6, pp. 714-718, June, 2022

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Konstantinopolsky, M.A., Chernyakova, I.V. & Kolik, L.G. Selank, a Peptide Analog of Tuftsin, Attenuates Aversive Signs of Morphine Withdrawal in Rats. Bull Exp Biol Med 173, 730–733 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10517-022-05624-x

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