Inhibition by MK-801 of Morphine-Induced Conditioned Place Preference and Postsynaptic Dopamine Receptor Supersensitivity in Mice

Intraperitoneal injection of morphine (5 mg/kg) in mice every other day for 8 days produced conditioned place preference (CPP). CPP effects were evaluated by assessing the difference in time spent in the drug-paired compartment and the saline-paired compartment of the place conditioning apparatus. The injection of a non-competitive NMDA antagonist, MK-801 (0.05 and 0.1 mg/kg, i.p.), prior to and during morphine treatment in mice Inhibited morphine-induced CPP. The development of postsynaptic dopamine (DA) receptor supersensitivity in mice displaying a morphine-induced CPP was evidenced by the enhanced response in ambulatory activity to the DA agonist, apomorphine (2 mg/kg). MK-801 inhibited that development of postsynaptic DA receptor supersensitivity MK-801 also inhibited apomorphine-induced climbing behavior, suggesting that MK-801 Inhibits dopaminergic activation mediated via the NMDA receptor.