The influence of p-chlorophenylalanine on different morphine effects.

p-Chlorophenylalanine (p-CPA) reduces brain 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) without altering the dopamine and norepinephrine content. Morphine does not influence the 5-HT level, but partly reverses the depletion of 5-HT by p-CPA. Morphine analgesia and toxicity are not affected by p-CPA treatment. p-CPA also has no effect on acute morphine hypothermia, but after chronic treatment of 5-HT-deficient mice the dose--response curve is no longer parallel, which suggests that another mode of morphine hypothermia occurs. p-CPA diminishes morphine-induced running after acute as well as after chronic morphine administration. p-CPA treatment reduces the sensitivity to the naloxone-precipitated withdrawal reaction, but does not affect the development of physical dependence.