Journal article
The effects of buprenorphine on fentanyl withdrawal in rats
Psychopharmacologia, Vol.191(4), pp.931-941
2007
DOI: 10.1007/s00213-006-0670-2
PMID: 17211652
Abstract
Rationale: Fentanyl is a potent mu-opioid receptor agonist that is widely used for the treatment of severe chronic pain. Discontinuation of fentanyl administration has been shown to induce a negative emotional state.
Objectives: The aim of the present studies was to investigate the effects of the partial mu-opioid receptor agonist buprenorphine on the negative emotional state associated with precipitated and spontaneous fentanyl withdrawal in rats.
Materials and methods: Fentanyl and saline were chronically administered via osmotic minipumps. A discrete-trial intracranial self-stimulation procedure was used to provide a measure of brain reward function. Somatic signs were recorded from a checklist of opioid abstinence signs.
Results: Naloxone induced a deficit in brain reward function in rats chronically treated with fentanyl. Buprenorphine dose-dependently prevented the naloxone-induced deficit in brain reward function. Discontinuation of fentanyl administration was also associated with a deficit in brain reward function. After explantation of the minipumps, the administration of buprenorphine induced a potentiation of brain reward function in the fentanyl-withdrawing rats, but did not affect brain reward function of saline-treated control rats. Buprenorphine prevented the somatic withdrawal signs associated with spontaneous fentanyl withdrawal and attenuated the somatic signs associated with precipitated fentanyl withdrawal.
Conclusions: Buprenorphine prevents affective and somatic fentanyl withdrawal signs. Moreover, buprenorphine is rewarding in rats previously exposed to fentanyl, but not in opioid-naïve rats. This pattern of results suggests that buprenorphine may be an effective treatment for the anhedonic-state associated with fentanyl withdrawal, but further study of buprenorphine's abuse potential is warranted.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- The effects of buprenorphine on fentanyl withdrawal in rats
- Creators
- Adrie W BRUIJNZEEL - Department of Psychiatry, McKnight Brain Institute, College of Medicine, University of Florida, 100 S. Newell Dr., 100256, Gainesville, FL 32610-0244, United StatesCatherine MARCINKIEWCZ - Department of Psychiatry, McKnight Brain Institute, College of Medicine, University of Florida, 100 S. Newell Dr., 100256, Gainesville, FL 32610-0244, United StatesShani ISAAC - Department of Psychiatry, McKnight Brain Institute, College of Medicine, University of Florida, 100 S. Newell Dr., 100256, Gainesville, FL 32610-0244, United StatesMatthew M BOOTH - Department of Anesthesiology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, 1600 SW Archer Road, Gainesville, FL 32610-0254, United StatesDonn M DENNIS - Department of Anesthesiology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, 1600 SW Archer Road, Gainesville, FL 32610-0254, United StatesMark S GOLD - Department of Psychiatry, McKnight Brain Institute, College of Medicine, University of Florida, 100 S. Newell Dr., 100256, Gainesville, FL 32610-0244, United States
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Psychopharmacologia, Vol.191(4), pp.931-941
- Publisher
- Springer; Berlin
- DOI
- 10.1007/s00213-006-0670-2
- PMID
- 17211652
- ISSN
- 0033-3158
- eISSN
- 1432-2072
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 2007
- Academic Unit
- Iowa Neuroscience Institute; Neuroscience and Pharmacology
- Record Identifier
- 9984040009002771
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