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Naloxone: lack of effect of a very low dose on fluid intake and activity in rats

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 June 2014

Robert Bell  and
Sheree Davis
Robert Bell
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, The Queen's University of Belfast, Belfast BT71NN
Sheree Davis
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, The Queen's University of Belfast, Belfast BT71NN
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Abstract

Opiate antagonists, such as naloxone, have been employed to indicate the possible involvement of endogenous opioids in a variety of behaviours including the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. This paper describes two experiments which were performed to determine the effects of naloxone on fluid intake and activity in rats. In experiment 1, the administration of 1mg/kg naloxone significantly (p<0.001) reduced water intake. 10mg/kg naloxone considerably reduced water intake, although this result was not significant. This influence was transient, since water intake was restored to control levels at the end of the 4 hours test period, and not dose related. A low dose of naloxone 0.01mg/kg produced no effect. In experiment 2, doses of 1 and 10mg/kg did not influence locomotor activity, rearing or grooming in the open field. These results suggest that naloxone may exert a primary antidipsogenic action that does not depend upon any suppression of concomitant activity. Furthermore, mechanisms controlling water intake and activity appear to be dissociated. A speculative role for the endogenous opioid system is discussed.

Keywords

NaloxoneAntidipsogenicActivityEndogenous opioid system
Type
Original Papers
Information
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine , Volume 8 , Issue 2 , September 1991 , pp. 100 - 108
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1991

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