Effect of electrical stimulation of central nucleus of the amygdala on morphine conditioned place preference in male rats

The central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) is one of the most important areas for the morphine reward system. This study investigated the effect of electrical stimulation of CeA on morphine conditioned place preference (CPP) in male rats.  

After anesthetizing male Wistar rats, both electrode and cannula were implanted into CeA for stimulating (low intensity: 25 μA, and high intensity: 150 μA) and injecting (lidocaine and dopamine D2 receptor antagonist), respectively. Then, CPP induced by effective (5 mg/kg) and ineffective (0.5 mg/kg) doses of morphine was evaluated for five consecutive days (n = 6 / group).

The low electrical stimulation intensity of 25 μA suppressed both acquisition and expression phases, but the high intensity of 150 µA attenuated only the expression phase. On the other hand, intra-CeA administration of dopamine D2 receptor antagonist, eticlopride (2 µg/rat), with the effective dose of morphine, decreased CPP. In addition, infusion of lidocaine into the CeA inhibited morphine-induced CPP in both acquisition and expression phases with the effective dose of morphine.

Electrical stimulation of the CeA may play an important role in attenuating morphine induced CPP via possible changes in neurotransmitters involved in the reward system such as dopamine (DA) and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA).