D. Chelărescu 1, M. Nechifor 1
1 Department of Pharmacology, “Gr. T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iaşi, Romania
Abstract
Prostaglandins and leukotrienes are important autacoids of the central nervous system that intervene in normal and pathologic processes. Th ese eicosanoids could play important roles in morphineinduced withdrawal syndrome, as proven in diff erent experimental setups. In our studies, synthetic analogues of PGF2alfa (cloprostenol) and PGE1 (misoprostol) and a leukotriene LT1 receptor antagonist (montelukast) have infl uenced some of the symptoms of morphine (M) withdrawal (without interfering with other symptoms) in rats. Cloprostenol has signifi cantly infl uenced certain symptoms: grooming, aggressive postures, teeth chattering, compulsive mastication, and explorations (e.g. grooming 17±2.5 in M+ClPG group vs 37±4.5 in M group) but not the others. Misoprostol (Mis) also has a diff erentiated eff ect, reducing: compulsive mastication, jumpings, aggressive positions and penile erection [e.g jumpings from 8.7±0.45 in morphine (M) group to 1.3±0.066 in M +Mis 100 (p<0.01); 4±0.2 in M+Mis 50 (p<0.01) and 7.6±0.4 in M+Mis 5 (NS)]. Our data plead for a selective and diff erentiated infl uence of PGE1, PGF2α and peptidoleukotrienes in opiate-induced physical dependence.