Repeated central administration of selegiline attenuated morphine physical dependence in rat.

Background: Long-term exposure to opiates induces physical dependence; however, the neurobiological mechanisms of this phenomenon are not completely clear. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of systemic and intracerebroventricular (icv) administration of selegiline (a selective inhibitor of monoamine oxidase B) on the morphine withdrawal syndrome in rats.

Methods: To this aim, adult male Sprague Dawley rats were selected randomly, and then growing doses of morphine were administered subcutaneously at an interval of 12 h for nine days with the intention of inducing dependency.