Pharmacology, biochemistry, and behavior
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Pharmacol. Biochem. Behav. · Mar 2016
Differential effects of intra-accumbal orexin-1 and -2 receptor antagonists on the expression and extinction of morphine-induced conditioned place preference in rats.
Orexinergic neurons originate from the hypothalamic nuclei, sending projections toward mesolimbic regions such as the nucleus accumbens (NAc). In this study, an attempt was made to determine the effects of intra-accumbal administration of SB334867 as an orexin-1 receptor (OX1R) antagonist and TCS OX2 29 as an orexin-2 receptor (OX2R) antagonist in the expression and maintenance of morphine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) in rats. One hundred and five adult Wistar rats weighing 200-280g were bilaterally implanted with cannulae into the NAc. ⋯ The results suggested that OX1R within the NAc may be necessary for the morphine-induced expression. Additionally, it seems that the existence of the orexin receptors in the NAc was important for the maintenance of morphine rewarding properties during the extinction phase. Therefore, orexins may be considered as a promising therapeutic agent in preventing the expression and maintenance of morphine rewarding effects on dependent individuals.