Participation of the POMC-system in the effects of morphine on the avoidance reaction in albino rats.

The influence of the POMC-system on the effects of morphine during learning are studied using physical (adrenalectomy, stress) and drug impacts (morphine, methamizol, acetysal) on the functional activity of the system. Adrenalectomized rats are found to manifest a sharp rise in the plasma and adenopituitary levels of beta-endorphin and inhibition of learning. The facilitating effect of morphine on learning (in a dose of 5 mg/kg) is inverted against the background of adrenalectomy. Dexamethasone prevents this effect, which coincides with the decrease in the beta-endorphin level. Morphine in a dose of 10 mg/kg body mass enhances learning against the background of stress applied in advance. In unstressed animals the same dose of morphine results in sharp deterioration of learning. Naloxone prevents the positive effect of morphine under stress. The dose-dependent opposite effects of morphine on the processes of learning are assumed to be modulated by the changes taking place in the ratio of the opioid/antiopioid POMC-derivatives under functional and drug influences.