The Effect of Morphine Dependence and Withdrawal on the Levels of Neurosteroids in Hippocampus of Male Rat / 中国心理卫生杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective: To investigate the effect of morphine dependence and withdrawal on the levels of neurosteroids in hippocampus of male rat.Methods: Rats were given (ip) increasing doses of morphine to form morphine physical dependence, withdrawal syndromes were precipitated by naloxone. The conditioned place preference (CPP) was used to establish morphine psychological dependence. The concentrations of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), pregnenolone (PREG), pregnenolone sulfate (PREGS), and allopregnanolone (AP) in rat hippocampus and plasma were quantified by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Results:The rat model of morphine physical and psychological dependence were successfully established by ip increasing doses of morphine for 7 days and 5mg?kg~ -1 morphine for 10 days respectively. Compared with saline control group, morphine physical dependence increased DHEA and PREG contents in rat hippocampus (0.88?0.19/0.67?0.17,t=2.52,10.94?2.02/7.53?2.64,t=3.24,P