Possible Serotonergic Mediation of Tonic Immobility: Effects of Morphine and Serotonin Blockade

Overview

Journal Psychopharmacologia

Specialty Pharmacology

Date 1975 Apr 30

PMID 125432

Citations 2

Authors

L E Hicks

J D Maser

G G Gallup Jr

P H Edson

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Small doses of morphine, within the range of 0.02 mg/kg to 10.15 mg/kg were administered to chickens (Gallus gallus) and the effect on the fear-based tonic immobility (TI) response determined. All doses at and above 0.13 mg/kg enhanced the TI response significantly above the levels produced for the 0.2 mg/kg dose and the distilled water control group. Administration of a single large dose of p-chlorophenylalanine prevented the morphine-induced enhancement of TI. It was suggested that serotonin systems mediate morphine effects on tonic immobility in chickens.

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