Effect of active immunization with dopamine- and norepinephrine-protein conjugated on neurochemical and neurophysiologic parameters of withdrawal syndrome in chronically morphine-treated rats
Tronnikov, S.I.; Gamaleĭa, N.B.; Veretinskaia, A.G.; Kuznetsova, M.N.; Basharova, L.A.; Vertilé, L.A.; Trekova, N.A.; Evseev, V.A.
Patologicheskaia Fiziologiia i Eksperimental'naia Terapiia 2: 13-15
1994
ISSN/ISBN: 0031-2991 PMID: 7915831 Document Number: 434860
The impact of induction of antibodies to the catecholamines (CA) dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine (NE) during active immunization of rats with CA conjugated to protein (BSA) on morphine dependence, withdrawal syndrome, and neurotransmitter status was studied during 14-day morphine treatment. DA-BSA and NE-BSA immunization of rats provided lower plasma DA concentrations in naloxone-precipitated opiate withdrawal. However, it failed to lead to normalization of hypothalamic DA levels and exacerbated the withdrawal syndrome. In immunized rats, including those immunized with BSA, the hypothalamic levels of DA and epinephrine (E) were even higher than in morphine-treated rats previously unimmunized. The aggravation of withdrawal symptoms was especially pronounced in rats preimmunized with NE-BSA, which could be due to a significant NE rise in the brain tissue.