Quantitative analysis of naloxone antagonism of the discriminative stimulus properties of morphine in the pigeon

Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 1986 Jul;25(1):209-14. doi: 10.1016/0091-3057(86)90254-6.

Abstract

Pigeons were trained to discriminate morphine (5.0 mg/kg) from saline under a second-order fixed ratio 10 (fixed-ratio 5) color-tracking schedule for food reinforcement. After reliable stimulus control was established, cumulative graded doses of morphine (0.3-30.0 mg/kg) were tested and resulted in dose-dependent increases in morphine-appropriate key pecking and decreases in response rate. Cumulative doses of naloxone (0.1-10.0 mg/kg) or consecutive injections of saline did not elicit morphine-appropriate responding or affect response rate. Pre-treatment with naloxone (0.1-1.0 mg/kg) before determination of cumulative dose-effect curves for morphine caused the morphine generalization curves to be shifted, in a parallel manner, rightward. Dose-ratio analysis of naloxone antagonism of morphine generalization, using a Schild plot with the slope constrained to -1, gave an apparent pA2 value (95% confidence limits) of 6.53 (6.18-6.89).

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Color
  • Columbidae
  • Discrimination Learning*
  • Food
  • Generalization, Stimulus / drug effects
  • Male
  • Morphine / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Naloxone / pharmacology*
  • Rats
  • Reinforcement Schedule
  • Species Specificity

Substances

  • Naloxone
  • Morphine