Differential involvement of D1 and D2 dopamine receptors in the expression of morphine withdrawal signs in rats

The role of dopamine (DA) receptors in the expression of opioid dependence was examined by use of an unbiased conditioned place preference paradigm. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were implanted s.c. with two pellets containing placebo or 75 mg morphine. Animals received one conditioning session with saline and one with the DA D1 receptor antagonist SCH23390 (0.01-0.05 mg, s.c.) or the DA D2 receptor antagonist raclopride (0.25-1.0 mg/kg, s.c.). Conditioning sessions were conducted 4 days after pellet implantation. During each of these sessions, physical signs of withdrawal were quantified. In morphine-pelleted animals, the D2 receptor antagonist raclopride produced conditioned place aversions, with a minimum effective dose of 0.5 mg/kg. Administration of a higher dose also resulted in wet-dog shakes, ptosis and diarrhea in morphine-pelleted animals. This effect was not observed in response to lower doses of raclopride or in placebo-pelleted animals. The D1 receptor antagonist SCH23390 failed to produce conditioned place aversions in either morphine- or placebo-pelleted animals after single-trial conditioning. This antagonist was also ineffective in producing physical withdrawal signs. After two conditioning sessions with SCH23390, both the morphine- and placebo-pelleted animals exhibited a marked aversion for the SCH23390-paired place. However, there was no difference between groups in the magnitude of this effect. These data demonstrate that the acute blockade of D2 receptors produces aversive effects in opioid-dependent animals and that this effect occurs in the presence of few, if any, prototypic physical withdrawal signs. Furthermore, the inability of a selective D1 receptor antagonist to produce conditioned aversive effects or physical signs of withdrawal suggests an important role of D2 as compared to D1 receptors in the expression of morphine withdrawal signs.