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Effect of midbrain raphe lesion on the antinociceptive action of morphine and other analgesics in rats

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Abstract

The antinociceptive action of several analgesics was studied by two methods: the hot-plate and the tail compression tests.

Lesions of the midbrain raphe, which produce a marked depletion of serotonin in the forebrain, antagonize the analgesic effect of morphine but not that of methadone, meperidine, codeine and propoxyphene.

It is concluded that the serotonin involvement suggested for the analgesic action of morphine cannot be generalized to other analgesics.

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Samanin, R., Ghezzi, D., Mauron, C. et al. Effect of midbrain raphe lesion on the antinociceptive action of morphine and other analgesics in rats. Psychopharmacologia 33, 365–368 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00437514

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00437514

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