Psychopharmacology

, Volume 48, Issue 1, pp 115–117 | Cite as

Reduction of morphine-withdrawal aggression by conditional social stimuli

  • Stephen Miksic
  • Nelson Smith
  • Harbans Lal
Animal Studies Short Reports

Abstract

Sixty male hooded rats were made physically dependent on morphine by steadily increasing doses of morphine sulphate. A maintenance dose of 400 mg/kg/day was reached in 10 days and was continued for 5 additional days. At the end of the 15-day period all rats were withdrawn for 72 h and aggressive responses (attacks, rearing, and vocalization) were recorded for a 60-min period. One treatment group, in which a social experience had been paired with each morphine injection, showed significantly less morphine-withdrawal aggression than rats in two other groups which either remained socially isolated throughout the addiction period, or were grouped both at the time of morphine injection and during between-injection intervals.

Key words

Morphine addiction Conditioning Withdrawal Aggression Vocalization Rearing Social stimuli 

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References

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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag 1976

Authors and Affiliations

  • Stephen Miksic
    • 1
    • 2
  • Nelson Smith
    • 1
    • 2
  • Harbans Lal
    • 1
    • 2
  1. 1.Department of Pharmacology and ToxicologyUniversity of Rhode IslandKingstonUSA
  2. 2.Department of PsychologyUniversity of Rhode IslandKingstonUSA

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