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Inhibitory Effect of Harmane on Morphine‐Dependent Guinea Pig Ileum
Author(s) -
ARICIOGLU FEYZA,
UTKAN TIJEN
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1196/annals.1304.022
Subject(s) - morphine , (+) naloxone , chemistry , pharmacology , ileum , guinea pig , opioid , medicine , biochemistry , receptor
A bstract : Studies on the occurrence and properties of b‐carbolines structurally related to harmala alkaloids have gained attention since it was hypothesized that some of these compounds play a role in processes of substance abuse and dependence. This study investigates the effects of harmane on naloxone‐precipitated withdrawal syndrome in morphine‐dependent guinea pig ileum. Segments of ilea from starved male guinea pigs were obtained and fixed at a resting tension of 1 g in an organ bath containing 10 26 M morphine in Tyrode solution at 378C, which was bubbled with 95% O 2 and 5% CO 2 . Tissues were incubated in 10 26 M morphine containing Tyrode solution for 4 hours before harmane was added. Naloxone and harmane had no effect on naive ilea. Naloxone (10 26 M) contracted morphine‐dependent ilea. Harmane significantly inhibited the contractile response to naloxone in a dose‐dependent manner (10 27 M 5 24%; 10 26 M 5 49.3%; 10 25 M 5 70%). These results suggest that harmane may have beneficial effects on morphine withdrawal syndrome.