Dose-dependent impairing effects of morphine on avoidance acquisition and performance in male mice

The effects of morphine (6.3, 12.6, and 25.2 mg/kg) on active avoidance behavior of BALB/C mice are explored in three acquisition sessions and in two subsequent performance sessions. Morphine-treated animals showed an increase in avoidance acquisition with respect to control group without differences in performance. However, a dramatical, concomitant rise in the locomotor activity of the animals (increase in the number of crossings during the intertrial intervals) prompted us to transform the data employing a formula with which a measure of actual learning was obtained. Applying this formula, we have observed that morphine administration impairs, dose-dependently, acquisition and performance of avoidance. Thus, the impairing effects of morphine on avoidance could be masked by their stimulant effects on locomotor activity. (C) 1998 Academic Press.