Periodic abstinence enhances nociception without significantly altering the antinociceptive efficacy of spinal morphine in the rat.

Naloxone administration in the opioid dependent rat is associated with spinal glutamate release and NMDA receptor activation which reportedly is also responsible for opioid tolerance. We hypothesized that episodic withdrawal during chronic infusion of spinal morphine might paradoxically enhance tolerance. Rats (24/group) infused with intrathecal morphine (M) for 4 days (20 nmol/microl per h) were given a daily subcutaneous (s.c.) injection of naloxone 0.6 mg/kg per 0.2 ml (MN) or saline 0.2 ml (MS). A third saline infused group was given daily s.c. saline 0.2 ml (SS). Latencies (rear paw hot box) were tested immediately prior to each daily injection. After termination of each infusion, the dose effect of spinal morphine (0.1, 1, 10, and 100 nmol) was examined. The MN group showed a significantly greater decline in daily latencies compared with the MS group, but also had greater withdrawal hyperalgesia upon termination of the infusion. Dose response to spinal morphine was not significantly different in either MS or MN groups. Periodic abstinence thus enhanced nociception without significantly altering the antinociceptive effect of spinal morphine in this group.