Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 28, 2026
04:11
A Conditioned Place Preference Protocol for Measuring Incubation of Craving in Rats
Published on: November 6, 2018
Increased elevated plus maze open-arm time in mice during spontaneous morphine withdrawal
Sam G Buckman1, Stephen R Hodgson, Rebecca S Hofford
1Behavioral and Cellular Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843 United States.
Behavioural Brain Research
|October 29, 2008
Summary
Mice show increased exploration in the elevated plus maze during opioid withdrawal, a surprising finding contrary to typical anxiogenic responses. This suggests a complex behavioral adaptation to opioid cessation in mice.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Behavioral Pharmacology
- Addiction Research
Background:
- Opioid withdrawal in rats typically induces anxiogenic behaviors, characterized by reduced exploration in open arms of the elevated plus maze (EPM).
- Previous observations indicated an unexpected anxiolytic-like profile in mice during naloxone-precipitated morphine withdrawal, with increased EPM open-arm time.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the behavioral effects of spontaneous opioid withdrawal in mice using the elevated plus maze (EPM).
- To determine if the anxiolytic-like profile observed during precipitated withdrawal extends to spontaneous withdrawal.
Main Methods:
- Induction of spontaneous opioid withdrawal in mice.
- Assessment of anxiety-like behaviors using the elevated plus maze (EPM), measuring open-arm time and entries.
Main Results:
- Mice exhibited a significant increase in open-arm time during spontaneous opioid withdrawal.
- The percentage of open-arm entries also increased, further supporting an anxiolytic-like behavioral profile.
Conclusions:
- Spontaneous opioid withdrawal in mice is associated with anxiolytic-like behaviors in the elevated plus maze.
- This finding contrasts with the typical anxiogenic response observed in rats and suggests species-specific or withdrawal-type-specific adaptations in opioid withdrawal.
