Morphine tolerance offers protection from radiogenic performance deficits

Journal Article · Tue Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1983 · Radiat. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2307/3575993· OSTI ID:5681969

Mickley, G A ^[1]; Stevens, K E; Burrows, J M; White, G A; Gibbs, G L

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1. U.S. Air Force Acamemy, Co

When rats are exposed to a sufficiently large dose of ionizing radiation they exhibit lethargy, hypokinesia, and deficits in performance. These and other behavioral changes parallel those often observed in this species after a large dose of morphine. Since the release of endogenous opiates has been implicated in some stress reactions, we sought to determine if they might play a part in radiogenic behavioral deficits. Rats were trained to criterion on a signaled avoidance task. Some subjects were then implanted with a pellet containing 75 mg of morphine. Other animals received placebo implants. Over a number of days, morphine tolerance was evaluated by measurement of body temperature changes. Prior to 2500 rad /sup 60/Co exposure or sham irradiation, morphine (or placebo) pellets were removed. Twenty-four hours later rats were retested to assess their performance on the avoidance task. Morphine-tolerant subjects performed significantly better than the irradiated placebo-implanted group and no differently than morphine-tolerant/sham-irradiated animals. Morphine tolerance seems to provide a degree of behavioral radiation resistance. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that endogenous opiate hyperexcretion may play some part in the behavioral deficits often observed after irradiation.

• OSTI ID: 5681969
• Journal Information: Radiat. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: Radiat. Res.; (United States) Vol. 93:2; ISSN RAREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560152* -- Radiation Effects on Animals-- Animals
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ALKALOIDS
ANALGESICS
ANIMALS
AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM AGENTS
AVOIDANCE
BEHAVIOR
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM DEPRESSANTS
COBALT 60
COBALT ISOTOPES
DRUGS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ENDORPHINS
GAMMA RADIATION
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
INTERNAL CONVERSION RADIOISOTOPES
IONIZING RADIATIONS
ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
MAMMALS
MATHEMATICS
MINUTES LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
MORPHINE
NARCOTICS
NEUROREGULATORS
NUCLEI
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
OPIUM
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATIONS
RADIOISOTOPES
RADIOSENSITIVITY EFFECTS
RATS
RODENTS
STATISTICS
TOLERANCE
VERTEBRATES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES