@article{APS8381,
author = {Cai-zhen YAN and Yan-ning HOU},
title = {Effects of morphine dependence and withdrawal on levels of neurosteroids in rat brain},
journal = {Acta Pharmacologica Sinica},
volume = {25},
number = {10},
year = {2016},
keywords = {},
abstract = {AIM:
To investigate the effects of morphine dependence and withdrawal on the concentrations of neurosteroids in rat brain.
METHODS:
A method of simultaneous quantification of neurosteroids by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) had been established.
RESULTS:
The chronic morphine administration (ip) resulted in a marked decrease in the brain concentrations of pregnenolone (PREG), progesterone (PROG), and pregenenolone sulfate (PREGS) in rats killed 6 h after the last treatment. In contrast, there were no significant effects of morphine dependence on the brain concentrations of allopregnanolone (AP), dihydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and dihydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS). Naloxone-induced withdrawal produced a significant increase in the concentrations of PREG, PROG, AP, DHEA, PREGS, and DHEAS as compared with the control group.
CONCLUSION:
Morphine dependence and withdrawal affected the concentrations of neurosteroids in rat brain, which suggests that endogenous neurosteroids in brain might be related to the development of morphine dependence and withdrawal.},
issn = {1745-7254}, url = {http://www.chinaphar.com/article/view/8381}
}