Antagonistic effect of pseudoginsenoside-F11 on the behavioral actions of morphine in mice

The antagonistic effect of pseudoginoside-F11 (PF(11)) on the various actions of morphine was studied in mice. The results demonstrated that PF(11), at the doses of 4 and 8 mg/kg, PO, significantly inhibited morphine (10 mg/kg, SC)-induced memory impairment in the Morris water maze test. PF(11), at 4 mg/kg, PO, did not influence conditioned place preference per se, yet markedly blocked the conditioned place preference to morphine. PF(11),at the doses of 4 and 8 mg/kg, PO, also significantly antagonized morphine (5 mg/kg, SC)-induced analgesia tested by tail pinch method. PF(11), at 4 mg/kg, PO, did not influence locomotor activity per se, yet inhibited the development of the reverse tolerance, as shown by the increase in locomotor activity, to morphine. At the doses of 4 and 8 mg/kg, PO, PF(11) significantly antagonized the development of analgesia tolerance to morphine in the tail pinch test. Thus, the above results demonstrate for the first time that PF(11) can antagonize some actions of morphine. However. the mechanism of action of PF(11) merits further evaluation. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc.