Jpn. J. Pharmacol. 75 (1), 101-104 (1997)


Effect of Salmon-Calcitonin on In Vitro Opioid Withdrawal

M. Jose Alfaro, Beatriz Fernandez, Carlos Goicoechea and M. Isabel Martin (*)

Departamento de Farmacologia, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
(*) To whom correspondence should be addressed.

Abstract: The effect on the in vitro withdrawal sign induced by naloxone in morphine-dependent guinea pig ileum has been analyzed. Salmon calcitonin (s-CT) dose-dependently reduced the force of the contraction induced by naloxone in morphine incubated tissues, but did not modify the contraction induced by administration of acetylcholine or substance P in non-treated tissues. Therefore, the effect of s-CT in morphine incubated tissues may not be attributable to postsynaptic mechanisms, and an inhibitory modulation of the excitatory pathways triggered by naloxone would be suggested. In conclusion, s-CT is able to prevent the withdrawal sign in vitro.

Keywords: Morphine withdrawal, Opioid abstinence, Calcitonin


Copyright© The Japanese Pharmacological Society 1997

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