Enduring effects of morphine pellets revealed by conditioned taste aversion

Abstract

Morphine pellets (75 mg) were implanted subcutaneously in albino rats. Three days later, following 24 h without water, these rats (Group MSN) were given access to a saccharin solution for 30 min, then injected with naloxone hydrochloride. The classical abstinence signs, including “wet dog shakes” and weight loss, were noted in these subjects, but not in controls given placebo pellets and/or saline injections. In addition, when given an opportunity to drink either saccharine solution or water 24 h later, Group MSN rats drank significantly less saccharin than any of the control groups. Similar drinking patterns were found even when naloxone injection was delayed as long as 3 weeks after pellet implantation, when none of the classical abstinence signs were seen and serum levels of morphine and its metabolites were 100 times lower according to radioimmunoassay. This simple and objective technique is thus more sensitive as a measure of prior morphine exposure than any of the commonly used indices. The continued utility of a dependent-nondependent dichotomy is also examined in light of these and other findings.