Components of the opioid withdrawal syndrome in mice are thermoregulatory responses

https://doi.org/10.1016/0091-3057(89)90306-7Get rights and content

Abstract

C57BL/6J mice were rendered physically dependent on morphine by giving them ad lib access to a drinking fluid containing 0.2% saccharin and morphine for 14 days at 20–22°C. Core body temperatures were monitored by radio telemetry, which obviated the need for restraint, handling, or otherwise disturbing the animals. Consistent hyperthermia was present throughout the morphine intoxication phase, followed by hypothermia after the withdrawal syndrome had been precipitated by naloxone challenge (2.0 mg/kg, IP) at 22.5°C. The hypothermia could be blocked by exposing the animals to a 34.5°C ambient temperature, which also prevented the occurrence of tremor and “wet dog shakes.” In contrast, the other withdrawal signs monitored were not significantly affected. In a second experiment, mice were given the same morphine-saccharin drinking fluid as before, except that a choice was provided between two interconnected home cages (23°C vs. 35°C) throughout the experiment. A marked preference for the 35°C cage was seen during intoxication, which served to enhance the hyperthermia due to morphine. Following withdrawal, when hypothermia is evident, the preference for the 35°C cage declined to control levels. These results suggest that hypothermia is both a consequence and a contributor to the opioid withdrawal syndrome.

Cited by (11)

  • Opioid withdrawal behavior in spiny mice: A novel preclinical model of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS)

    2021, Heliyon
    Citation Excerpt :

    While changes in body temperature have not been well characterized in rodent models of NOWS, a 2019 study showed that body temperature decreased following prenatal opioid exposure (Wallin et al., 2019). Additionally, studies in adult rodent models of opioid withdrawal have also reported a decrease in body temperature (Belknap, 1989; Lipták et al., 2012). In contrast to these previous reports, the body temperature of spiny mice pups from the morphine exposed groups was significantly higher in both sexes.

  • Sex differences in the expression of morphine withdrawal symptoms and associated activity in the tail of the ventral tegmental area

    2019, Neuroscience Letters
    Citation Excerpt :

    The second greatest sex difference in withdrawal symptoms, in the present study occurred as the expression of wet-dog shakes. Wet-dog shakes occur as a part of the withdrawal syndrome, a condition that develops as the result of hypothermia [40]. Sex differences in wet-dog shakes were previously reported [30] and attributed to established sex differences in morphine-induced hypothermia [41].

  • Hypothermic effects of neuropeptide FF analogues in mice

    1997, Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior
View all citing articles on Scopus
View full text