Pharmacological activation of serotonin 5-HT2C receptor ameliorates naloxone-precipitated withdrawal in morphine-dependent mice / 中国药理学通报

ABSTRACT

Aim To explore the effect of pharmacolog-ical activation of serotonin 5-HT2C receptor (5-HT2C R) on naloxone-precipitated withdrawal in morphine-de-pendent mice. Method EthoVision Noldus video tracking system was used to record the effect of 5-HT2C R agonist WAY on locomotor activities and behavioral performances in mice.Results Selective 5-HT2C R ag-onist WAY (0.5,0.75 or 1 .0 mg·kg -1 ,i.p.)a-lone did not alter the locomotor activities as determined by distance traveled and velocity (all P values >0.05).Chronic morphine treatment induced depend-ence in mice as demonstrated by increases in distance traveled,velocity and jumping behavior.WAY (0.5, 0.75 or 1 .0 mg·kg -1 ,i.p.)and clonidine (0.2 mg ·kg -1 ,i.p.)significantly ameliorated naloxone-pre-cipitated withdrawal symptoms,including burrowing, jumping,body grooming,rearing,“wet dog”shakes, head shakes,face grooming,penile grooming,scratch (all P values <0.05).Conclusion Pharmacological activation of 5-HT2C R ameliorates naloxone-precipitated withdrawal symptoms in morphine-dependent mice.5-HT2C R may be a novel target to develop therapeutic ap-proach against morphine physical dependence,craving and relapsing.