Drug discrimination history: pigeons trained to discriminate opioids with activity at different receptor types. 1998

M J Picker
Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 27599-3270, USA. mjpicker@pop.unc.edu

In pigeons (Columba livia; N = 5) trained to discriminate the mu (mu) opioid butorphanol from saline, various mu (morphine, fentanyl) but not kappa (kappa; bremazocine, U50,488, U69,593) opioids produced at least 80% drug-appropriate responding. Subsequently, pigeons were retrained to discriminate the kappa opioid bremazocine from saline; in this condition, both mu and kappa opioids produced at least 80% drug-appropriate responding, naloxone was more potent as an antagonist of the butorphanol stimulus, and chronic bremazocine treatment selectively produced tolerance to the bremazocine stimulus. Although butorphanol can function as a kappa antagonist, the effects produced by combinations of butorphanol and bremazocine during training with bremazocine were generally effect-additive. The findings indicate that the mechanisms underlying the stimulus effects of mu opioids are not altered by subsequent training with a kappa opioid. Conversely, a history of discrimination training with a mu opioid does not alter the discriminative control produced by kappa opioids during subsequent training with a kappa opioid.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009020 Morphine The principal alkaloid in opium and the prototype opiate analgesic and narcotic. Morphine has widespread effects in the central nervous system and on smooth muscle. Morphine Sulfate,Duramorph,MS Contin,Morphia,Morphine Chloride,Morphine Sulfate (2:1), Anhydrous,Morphine Sulfate (2:1), Pentahydrate,Oramorph SR,SDZ 202-250,SDZ202-250,Chloride, Morphine,Contin, MS,SDZ 202 250,SDZ 202250,SDZ202 250,SDZ202250,Sulfate, Morphine
D009294 Narcotics Agents that induce NARCOSIS. Narcotics include agents that cause somnolence or induced sleep (STUPOR); natural or synthetic derivatives of OPIUM or MORPHINE or any substance that has such effects. They are potent inducers of ANALGESIA and OPIOID-RELATED DISORDERS. Analgesics, Narcotic,Narcotic Analgesics,Narcotic,Narcotic Effect,Narcotic Effects,Effect, Narcotic,Effects, Narcotic
D011957 Receptors, Opioid Cell membrane proteins that bind opioids and trigger intracellular changes which influence the behavior of cells. The endogenous ligands for opioid receptors in mammals include three families of peptides, the enkephalins, endorphins, and dynorphins. The receptor classes include mu, delta, and kappa receptors. Sigma receptors bind several psychoactive substances, including certain opioids, but their endogenous ligands are not known. Endorphin Receptors,Enkephalin Receptors,Narcotic Receptors,Opioid Receptors,Receptors, Endorphin,Receptors, Enkephalin,Receptors, Narcotic,Receptors, Opiate,Endorphin Receptor,Enkephalin Receptor,Normorphine Receptors,Opiate Receptor,Opiate Receptors,Opioid Receptor,Receptors, Normorphine,Receptors, beta-Endorphin,beta-Endorphin Receptor,Receptor, Endorphin,Receptor, Enkephalin,Receptor, Opiate,Receptor, Opioid,Receptor, beta-Endorphin,Receptors, beta Endorphin,beta Endorphin Receptor,beta-Endorphin Receptors
D002077 Butorphanol A synthetic morphinan analgesic with narcotic antagonist action. It is used in the management of severe pain. 17-(Cyclobutylmethyl)morphinan-3,14-diol,Apo-Butorphanol,BC-2627,Beforal,Butorphanol Tartrate,Dolorex,Moradol,Stadol,Stadol NS,Torbugesic,BC 2627,BC2627
D004193 Discrimination Learning Learning that is manifested in the ability to respond differentially to various stimuli. Discriminative Learning,Discrimination Learnings,Discriminative Learnings,Learning, Discrimination,Learning, Discriminative
D004305 Dose-Response Relationship, Drug The relationship between the dose of an administered drug and the response of the organism to the drug. Dose Response Relationship, Drug,Dose-Response Relationships, Drug,Drug Dose-Response Relationship,Drug Dose-Response Relationships,Relationship, Drug Dose-Response,Relationships, Drug Dose-Response
D005260 Female Females
D005283 Fentanyl A potent narcotic analgesic, abuse of which leads to habituation or addiction. It is primarily a mu-opioid agonist. Fentanyl is also used as an adjunct to general anesthetics, and as an anesthetic for induction and maintenance. (From Martindale, The Extra Pharmacopoeia, 30th ed, p1078) Phentanyl,Duragesic,Durogesic,Fentanest,Fentanyl Citrate,Fentora,R-4263,Sublimaze,Transmucosal Oral Fentanyl Citrate,R 4263,R4263
D006168 Guinea Pigs A common name used for the genus Cavia. The most common species is Cavia porcellus which is the domesticated guinea pig used for pets and biomedical research. Cavia,Cavia porcellus,Guinea Pig,Pig, Guinea,Pigs, Guinea
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia

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