Jpn. J. Pharmacol. 71 (4), 357-360 (1996)


A Potent Mu-Opioid Receptor Agonist, Dihydroetorphine, Fails to Produce the Conditioned Place Preference in Mice

Shogo Tokuyama, Fumihiro Nakamura, Kaoru Nakao, Masakatsu Takahashi and Hiroshi Kaneto

Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagasaki University, 1-14 Bunkyo-machi, Nagasaki 852, Japan

Abstract: Reinforcing effects of dihydroetorphine (DHE) and morphine were evaluated by the conditioned place preference paradigm. Both DHE and morphine produced an antinociceptive effect in a dose-dependent manner. On the other hand, DHE (0.1, 1, 3 and 10 microg/kg, i.p.) failed to induce the conditioned preference, while morphine (0.1, 1, 3 and 10 mg/kg, i.p.) caused a dose-dependent preference for the drug-paired place. Thus, these characteristic properties of DHE make it attractive for development as a novel potent analgesic compound that has less dependence liability.

Keywords: Dihydroetorphine, Morphine, Conditioned place preference


Copyright© The Japanese Pharmacological Society 1996

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