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Specific opioid-amphetamine interactions in the caudate putamen

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Abstract

Bilateral microinjection of morphine (0.003–3 μg/side) into the caudate putamen enhances the behavior induced by the IP injection of 1 mg/kg d-amphetamine phosphate in a dose-related manner. The duration of activity was prolonged and ambulation was changed to d-amphetamine stereotypy, a behavior normally associated with higher doses of d-amphetamine. The opioid activity was stereospecific in that levorphanol was active, whereas dextrorphan was not. The enhancement of d-amphetamine-induced behavior by the opioids was blocked by naloxone. d-ala2-met-Enkephalin also enhanced the amphetamine-induced behavior. This enhancement appears to be specific to the caudate putamen because the oral stereotypy observed appears to be a unique action of amphetamine in this region of the brain.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, University of California, 94143, San Francisco, CA, USA

    S. K. Woo & H. H. Loh

  2. Laboratory of Psychobiology, Departments of Psychiatry and Pharmacology and Cell Biophysics, University of Cininnati, 45267, Cincinnati, OH, USA

    R. J. Hitzemann

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  1. S. K. Woo
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  2. R. J. Hitzemann
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  3. H. H. Loh
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Woo, S.K., Hitzemann, R.J. & Loh, H.H. Specific opioid-amphetamine interactions in the caudate putamen. Psychopharmacology 85, 371–376 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00428204

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00428204

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