Skip to main content
OSTI.GOVU.S. Department of Energy Office of Scientific and Technical Information
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information
 

Morphine tolerance offers protection from radiogenic performance deficits

Journal Article · · Radiat. Res.; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2307/3575993· OSTI ID:6253373
; ; ; ;
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.
Research Organization:
Department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado
OSTI ID:
6253373
Journal Information:
Radiat. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: Radiat. Res.; (United States) Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 93:2; ISSN RAREA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

Similar Records

Morphine tolerance offers protection from radiogenic performance deficits
Journal Article · Mon Jan 31 23:00:00 EST 1983 · Radiat. Res.; (United States) · OSTI ID:5681969
Brain receptors for thyrotropin releasing hormone in morphine tolerant-dependent rats
Conference · Fri Feb 28 23:00:00 EST 1986 · Fed. Proc., Fed. Am. Soc. Exp. Biol.; (United States) · OSTI ID:5321777
Spinal cord thyrotropin releasing hormone receptors of morphine tolerant-dependent and abstinent rats
Journal Article · Sun Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1990 · Peptides (Fayetteville, New York); (USA) · OSTI ID:6324786

Related Subjects

550100 -- Behavioral Biology
560152* -- Radiation Effects on Animals-- Animals
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ALKALOIDS
ANALGESICS
ANIMALS
BEHAVIOR
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL PATHWAYS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM DEPRESSANTS
DRUGS
MAMMALS
MORPHINE
NARCOTICS
OPIUM
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIOPROTECTIVE SUBSTANCES
RADIOSENSITIVITY
RADIOSENSITIVITY EFFECTS
RATS
RODENTS
TOLERANCE
VERTEBRATES