Effects of magnesium sulfate on the acquisition and reinstatement of morphine-induced conditioned place preference in mice

Abstract

Relapse to opioid, even long time after withdrawal, is one of the most important problems of opiate withdrawal programs. Magnesium has been shown that; inhibit glutamate release and induces N-Methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonistic effects; moreover, glutamate NMDA antagonists contribute to the reinforcement of morphine. In the current study, the effects of magnesium sulfate on the acquisition and reinstatement of morphine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) in an animal model were investigated. The acquisition and extinction and reinstatement phases induced using morphine 40 and 10mg/kg. Magnesium sulfate 300 and 600 mg/kg (not 150mg/kg) reduced morphine dependence. Additionally, tendency of animals to the white compartment of CPP chamber significantly decreased. Magnesium sulfate inhibits morphine tendency and reinstatement probably via NMDA antagonistic effects.

Keywords: magnesium sulfate; morphine; conditioned place preference.