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The possible cross-tolerance between morphine- and nicotine-induced hypothermia in mice

2001; Elsevier BV; Volume: 68; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/s0091-3057(00)00457-3

1873-5177

Mohammad-Reza Zarrindast, Saoka Barghi-Lashkari, Mahshid Shafizadeh,

Neuropeptides and Animal Physiology

In the present study, cross-tolerance between hypothermia induced by morphine and nicotine in mice has been investigated. Different doses of morphine or nicotine induced dose-dependent hypothermia. The sub-maximal doses of both drugs were used for interaction studies. Administration of mecamylamine either intracerebroventricularly (2-6 microg/animal icv) or intraperitoneally (0.5 and 1 mg/kg ip) decreased both morphine- or nicotine-induced hypothermia. Naloxone either intracerebroventricularly (2-6 microg/animal) or intraperitoneally (1 and 2 mg/kg) reduced the response to morphine, but not nicotine's response. Hexamethonium (5 and 10 mg/kg ip) caused a slight decrease in morphine's hypothermia, but not that of nicotine. Nicotine's response was decreased in the animals which were made tolerant to hypothermic effect of morphine. Pre-treatment of the animals with low doses of morphine (12.5 or 25 mg/kg), once daily for 3 days, did not cause significant tolerance to the hypothermic response to morphine or nicotine. However, the administration of low doses of morphine (12.5 or 25 mg/kg) plus nicotine (2 mg/kg), once daily for 3 days, increased levels of tolerance to hypothermia induced by either drug. It is concluded that nicotinic receptor mechanism may play a role in morphine-induced hypothermia and there is cross-tolerance between the two drugs.