Morphine Analgesia Modification in Normotensive and Hypertensive Female Rats after Repeated Fluoxetine Administration

The purpose of this investigation was to determine through the use of fluoxetine the effect of administering a serotonin reuptake inhibitor over several days on the antinociceptive action of μ-morphine type opioid receptor agonist. Investigations were performed on rats of both sexes, both the WKY normotensive strains as well as on the SHR genetically conditioned hypertensive strains. Results showed that the efficacy of morphine analgesia is higher in the SHR strain compared to normotensive rats (WKY). Surprisingly, repeated administration of fluoxetine reduced morphine analgesia, with the weakening of opioid antinociceptive action comparable to the duration of serotonin reuptake inhibitor administration. It was also concluded that the antinociceptive action of morphine in female rats and the alteration of its efficacy as a result of fluoxetine premedication for several days depend on oestrus cycle phase. The highest sensitivity of female rats to morphine was reported in the dioestrus and oestrus phases; much lower values were reported for the metoestrus phase.