The Effect of Resveratrol on Anxiolytic and Emotional Memory Impairment Induced by Morphine

A body of pharmacological and non-pharmacological studies have been conducted with the purpose of attenuatingmorphine side effects such as anxiety and memory impairment. It seems that there is a close relationship between resveratrol and morphine according to molecular cell pathway. Thus, the aim of the present investigation was to evaluate the effect of resveratrol on anxiolytic-like behavior and emotional memory induced by morphine.

A basic experimental research has been designed for this study. The test-retest protocol of elevated plus-maze (EPM) apparatus was used. The male Wistar rat received subthreshold dose of resveratrol (52mg/kg), 15minutes before injection of saline (1ml/kg) or different doses of morphine (1025, 205and 5mg/kg) on the test day. Twenty-four hours after test day, the EPM’s parameters was also measured without drug injection. All drugs were injected intraperitonealy.

The data indicated that higher dose of morphine (5mg/kg) elevated Open Arm Time (%OAT, P<.25) and Open Arm Enters (%OAE, P<.221) on the test day, and also %OAT (P<.25) and %OAE (P<.221) on the retest day, indicating decrease of anxiety and impairment of emotional memory, respectively. Moreover, subthreshold dose of resveratrol (52mg/kg) restored all parameters induced by higher doses of morphine in the test (P<.25for %OAT and P<.21for %OAE) and the retest day (P<.25for %OAT and P<.221for %OAE).

The principal findings of this research showed that resveratrol can alter morphine responses on anxiety and emotional memory process. It is also postulated that the resveratrol can decrease the morphine side effects in the people using it.