Chronic Morphine Treatment and Withdrawal Increase Extracellular Levels of Norepinephrine in the Rat Bed Nucleus of the Stria Terminalis

• DOI: 10.1046/j.1471-4159.2000.0750741.x
• Publication Date: 2003-03-12T06:46:51Z
• Authors: José Antonio Fuen...; María Inés Forray; Katia Gysling
• Keywords: Microdialysis

Extracellular levels of norepinephrine (NE) and glutamate (Glu) in the ventral bed nucleus stria terminalis (vBNST) saline- chronic morphine-treated rats, with or without withdrawal, were studied by means vivo microdialysis technique anesthetized rats. In addition, tissue concentration NE was at different rostrocaudal vBNST. Chronic morphine treatment significantly increased extracellular NE, but not Glu, At 48 h after naloxone-induced withdrawal there a further significant increase The presence UK 14304, an alpha(2)-adrenergic agonist, induced decrease all experimental groups. contrast, 14304 Glu only saline-treated results also show that vBNST presents gradient contains 9.4% total brain NE. suggest may be involved pharmacological effects withdrawal.