Abstract
The effects of morphine (5, 10, 100, and 150 mg/kg SC) on locomotor activity, object manipulation, grooming, rearing, and responsiveness to social stimulation were observed in naive, nontolerant mice. Morphine induced significant changes in the behavior elements recorded. Five and 10 mg/kg morphine caused an initial phase of about 1 h with inhibition of all activities. After 1 h the mice gradually increased activity and exceeded the corresponding placebo level at the end of the sessions. 100 and 150 mg/kg morphine caused an increase in locomotor activity. This hyper-active continuous running was stereotyped, restricted as it was to only a certain part of the experimental cage. Concurrently all other behavior elements were abolished. The animals did not normalize within the observation period. Neither the sedated mice with low doses nor the mice with high doses of morphine responded socially to the presence of another untreated mouse which was placed in the cage as a social response test.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ayhan, I., Randrup, A.: Behavioral and pharmacological studies on morphine-induced excitation of rats. Possible relation to brain catecholamine. Psychopharmacologia 29, 317–328 (1973)
Ayhan, I.: Effects of morphine on the behavior of mice and the role of brain catecholamines in the mechanism of this action of morphine. Thesis. Ankara 1974
Babbini, M., Davis, W. M.: Time-dose relationship for locomotor activity effects of morphine after acute and repeated treatment. Br. J. Pharmacol. 46, 213–224 (1972)
Carroll, B. J., Sharp, P. T.: Monoamine mediation of the morphine-induced activation of mice. Br. J. Pharmacol. 46, 124–139 (1972a)
Carroll, B. J., Sharp, P. T.: An animal model of mania. Psychopharmacologia 26, 10 (1972b)
Eddy, N. B.: Morphine action on the nervous system. In: The pharmacology of the opium alkaloids. H. Krueger, N. B. Eddy, M. Sumwalt, eds., pp. 1–76. Washington C. D.: U.S. Public Health Service 1941
Eidelberg, E., Erspamer, R.: Dopaminergic mechanisms of opiate actions in brain. J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 192, 50–57 (1975)
Fennessy, M. R., Lee, J. R.: Comparison of the dose-response effects of morphine on brain amines, analgesia and activity in mice. Br. J. Pharmacol. 45, 1–9 (1972)
Fog, R.: Behavioural effects in rats of morphine and amphetamine and of combination of the two drugs. Pschopharmacologia 16, 305–312 (1970)
Goldstein, A., Sheehan, P.: Tolerance to the “running fit” caused by levorphanol in the mouse. J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 169, 175–184 (1969)
Hollinger, M.: Effect of reserpine, α-methyl-p-tyrosine, p-chlorophenylalanine and pargyline on levorphanol-induced running activity in mice. Arch. Int. Pharmacodyn. Ther. 179, 419–424 (1969)
Joel, E., Ettinger, A.: Zur Pathologie der Gewöhnung. Experimentelle Studien über Morphingewöhnung. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Arch. Pharmacol. 115, 334–350 (1926)
Martin, W. R., Wikler, A., Eades, C. G., Pescor, F. T.: Tolerance to and physical dependence on morphine in rats. Psychopharmacologia 4, 247–260 (1963)
Randrup, A., Munkvad, I.: Stereotyped activities produced by amphetamine in several animal species and man. Psychopharmacologia 11, 300–310 (1967)
Randrup, A., Munkvad, I., Fog, R., Ayhan, I. H.: Catecholamines in activation stereotypy and level of mood. In: Catecholamines and behavior. A. J. Freidhoff, ed., pp. 89–107. New York: Plenum 1975
Rethy, C. R., Smith, C. B., Villarreal, J. E.: Effects of narcotic analgetics upon the locomotor activity and brain catecholamine content of the mouse. J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 176, 472–479 (1971)
Schiørring, E., Hecht, A.: Behavioral effects of low, acute doses of morphine in nontolerant groups of rats in an open-field test. Psychopharmacology (in press, 1979)
Shuster, H., Hannam, R., Boyle, W.: A simple method for producing tolerance to dihydromorphinone in mice. J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 140, 149–154 (1963)
Sloan, J. W., Brooks, J. W., Eisenman, A. J., Martin, W. R.: Comparson of the effects of single doses of morphine and thebaine on body temperature, activity, and brain and heart levels of catecholamines and serotonin. Psychopharmacologia 3, 301 (1962)
Straub, W.: Eine empfindliche biologische Reaktion auf Morphin. Dtsch. Med. Wochenschr. 37, 1469–1471 (1971)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hecht, A., Schiørring, E. Behavioral effects of low and high acute doses of morphine in solitary mice. Psychopharmacology 64, 73–79 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00427348
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00427348