A comparative study of the effects of reserpine and p-chlorophenylalanine on morphine analgesia in mice

• DOI: 10.1007/bf00422752
• Publication Date: 2004-11-10T03:30:24Z
• Authors: E. Contreras; L. Quijada; L. Tamayo
• Keywords: Reserpine

The potentiating effect of reserpine on morphine analgesia in mice was studied by means of the hot plate method and compared with the anti-analgesic action produced by p-chlorophenylalanine (p-Clphe) in the same strain of mice. The administration of DOPA or 5-hydroxytryptophan did not alter the potentiation, while the combination of both monoamine precursors markedly increased the morphine effect in reserpine-treated mice. p-Clphe showed no significant ability to antagonize the potentiating effect of reserpine. α-Methyl tyrosine attenuated the analgesic effect of morphine in both untreated and reserpinized mice. These results suggest that the enhanced effect of morphine observed in reserpinized mice is not mediated by the depletion of brain monoamines produced by reserpine.