Abstract
Extracellular single unit recordings in vitro from the locus coeruleus in rat brainstem slices revealed the presence of spontaneously active neurons. These cells fired between 0.1 and 3.0 spikes/s and were inhibited by nM concentrations of morphine and clonidine. Locus coeruleus neurons in slices from animals treated chronically, but not subacutely, with morphine exhibited a significant decrease in sensitivity to morphine. This tolerance appeared to be specific for opiates since no decrease in sensitivity was seen for the α 2-adrenoceptor agonist clonidine. However, in contrast to what has been reported in vivo, no signs of dependence (withdrawal activation) were evident in slices from morphine tolerant animals.
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