Effect of Morphine withdrawal on Activity of GABA in the Brain of Rats

Abstract

The aim of the study was to explain whether the activities of the GABAcatabolizing enzymes (succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), SSA-dehydrogenase (SSA-DH) and GABA-transaminase (GABA-T) altered in cerebellum and thalamus of rats in the different terms after morphine withdrawal (MW). The 24 hours' morphine withdrawal caused reliable changes in the enzymes activity only in thalamus. After 3 and 7 day's morphine withdrawal the activation of SDH and GABA-shunt was determined in both the brain regions tested. Possible explanation of the changes observed may be related to contradaptational events recalled by chronic morphine intoxication in the GABAergic neurons.