Combined effects of methamphetamine and morphine on ambulatory activity in mice and continuous avoidance response in rats.

Combined effects of methamphetamine and morphine were investigated by means of ambulatory activity in mice and continuous avoidance response in rats. Single administration of methamphetamine (0.5-2 mg/kg sc) or morphine (2.5-10 mg/kg sc) increased the ambulatory activity in a dose-dependent manner. The ambulation-increasing effect of methamphetamine and morphine were synergistic throughout the combined doses tested. Methamphetamine (0.13 and 0.5 mg/kg sc) produced an increase in frequency of lever-pressing and a decrease in shock rate, showing facilitation of the avoidance response, in a dose-dependent manner. Morphine tended to facilitate the avoidance response at lower doses (1.3 and 2.5 mg/kg sc), whereas, at higher doses (5 and 10 mg/kg sc), it elicited decrease in the frequency of lever-pressing and increase in the shock rate, showing suppressing of the avoidance response. The avoidance-facilitating effect of methamphetamine was attenuated by higher doses of morphine. The present results suggest that combined administration of methamphetamine and morphine shows synergistic effect on ambulatory activity in mice, and synergistic and antagonistic effects on the avoidance response in rats depending on the doses combined.