MODIFICATION BY GABA‐ERGIC AGENTS AND CLONIDINE OF MORPHINE‐INDUCED CONVULSIONS AND TOXICITY IN RATS

Abstract
SUMMARY: 1. Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of morphine produced dose‐dependent behavioural changes in rats, the highest dose producing violent tonic convulsions.2. Naloxone (up to 10 mg/kg i.p., or 100 μg i.c.v.) failed to reverse morphine‐induced toxicity.3. The conventional anticonvulsant drugs also failed to offer protection to morphine‐induced seizures.4. GABA‐ergic substances, GABA, piracetam and diazepam, on the other hand, protected the animals against morphine‐induced convulsions and toxicity. Similarly, clonidine pretreatment also had a protective action against morphine‐induced convulsions.