Effects of naloxone infusion upon spontaneous and amphetamine-induced activity

Naloxone-filled (1.0 mg/kg per h) or sham pumps were implanted subcutaneously (s.c.) in rats on day 0 and removed on day 7. Spontaneous locomotor activity was lower in naloxone-infused rats on day 3 only. Cumulative dose-response curves to D-amphetamine were constructed in separate groups on day 6 or day 8 (0.0-6.4 mg/kg s.c.). On day 6, naloxone infusion attenuated the gross movement response to D-amphetamine, but not the fine movement response. There were no differences in the response of naloxone- or sham-infused rats to D-amphetamine on day 8. Therefore, withdrawal from continuous naloxone infusion had no influence upon spontaneous or D-amphetamine-stimulated activity.