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  • Title: Microdialysis evidence that acetylcholine in the nucleus accumbens is involved in morphine withdrawal and its treatment with clonidine.
    Author: Rada P, Pothos E, Mark GP, Hoebel BG.
    Journal: Brain Res; 1991 Oct 11; 561(2):354-6. PubMed ID: 1802350.
    Abstract:
    This study used microdialysis to measure changes in extracellular acetylcholine (ACh) content in the nucleus accumbens (NAC) of freely moving rats during acute and chronic morphine treatment, and following naloxone-precipitated withdrawal. Morphine injection (20 mg/kg, i.p.) caused a significant decrease in extracellular ACh which was not apparent after repeated exposure to the opiate for 7 days. Basal recovery of ACh was not altered by chronic morphine treatment. On day 8, after morphine dependence had been established, naloxone caused a large increase in ACh levels accompanied by withdrawal symptoms such as wet dog shakes, diarrhea and teeth-chattering. Pretreatment with clonidine (200 micrograms/kg, i.p.) reduced these withdrawal symptoms and eliminated the ACh response. These results suggest that accumbens ACh is involved in some of the aversive aspects of opiate withdrawal.
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