Time-dependent generalization of morphine stimulus properties to meperidine: antagonism by naloxone

The time course of the stimulus generalization to morphine by meperidine (20 mg/kg) was determined in rats trained to discriminate morphine (10 mg/kg) from saline in a standard two-lever procedure with food reinforcement. It was found that morphine lever selection following meperidine was a strictly time-dependent phenomenon. Naloxone (0.3 mg/kg) antagonized the stimulus properties of both morphine and meperidine; however, the antagonism was significantly more pronounced against morphine. The results suggest that there may be certain differences in the neuropharmacology of the stimulus properties of morphine and meperidine.