Effect of apomorphine on the antinociceptive activity of morphine

Abstract
Apomorphine pretreatment potentiated the analgesic effect of morphine in a dose-dependent manner both in rats and in mice measured by five different tests (writhing, hot plate, inflamed foot, tail-pinch and tail-flick procedures). Furthermore, apomorphine augmented the antinociceptive activity of morphine in tolerant animals as well. In morphine dependent mice the nalorphine precipitated jumping—a withdrawal symptom—was found inhibited by apomorphine treatment. The results are discussed in the light of the numerous but contradictory data available in the literature.