SEXUALLY DIMORPHIC ANXIETY-LIKE BEHAVIOR DURING MORPHINE WITHDRAWAL SYNDROME

INDUNI A; VARANI A; MOUTINHO L; CALVO M; BALERIO G

Rosario-Argentina

Congreso; XLI Reunión Anual de la Sociedad Argentina de Farmacología Experimental; 2009

SAFE

SEXUALLY DIMORPHIC ANXIETY-LIKE BEHAVIOR DURING MORPHINE WITHDRAWAL SYNDROME 1,2Induni, A S, 1Varani, A, 1Machado, L, 1Calvo, M, and 1,2Balerio G. 1ININFA (CONICET), 2Cát. de Farmacología, FFyB (UBA). Junín 956 5º piso (1113), Buenos Aires. E-mail: gbalerio@ffyb.uba.ar We have previously demonstrated sex differences during morphine (MOR) withdrawal. We have also shown that the GABAB receptor agonist baclofen (BAC) was able to prevent the MOR withdrawal in male as well as female mice. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the anxiety-like behavior in mice of either sex during naloxone (NAL)-precipitated withdrawal and its prevention with BAC in the elevated plus maze (EPM). Swiss-Webster prepubertal mice were rendered dependent by i.p. injection of MOR (2 mg/kg), twice daily for 9 days. On the 10th day, dependent mice were divided into two groups: withdrawal group received NAL (6 mg/kg, i.p.) after the last dose of MOR, while prevention group received BAC (2 mg/kg, i.p.) before NAL injection. Animals were placed in the center of the EPM facing towards an open arm and recorded for 15 min. Our results showed a significant increase in the percentage of entries (p