Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 30, 2026

Assessment of Morphine-induced Hyperalgesia and Analgesic Tolerance in Mice Using Thermal and Mechanical Nociceptive Modalities
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Assessment of Morphine-induced Hyperalgesia and Analgesic Tolerance in Mice Using Thermal and Mechanical Nociceptive Modalities

Published on: July 29, 2014

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Morphine Dependence is Attenuated by Treatment of 3,4,5-Trimethoxy Cinnamic Acid in Mice and Rats

Sohyeon Moon1, Seungmin Kang1, Heeyeon Shin2

  • 1Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 07985, Republic of Korea.

Neurochemical Research
|January 12, 2019
PubMed

Insights

3,4,5-trimethoxy cinnamic acid (TMCA) effectively reduced morphine dependence in animal models. TMCA attenuated withdrawal symptoms and altered key protein expressions linked to addiction.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Pharmacology
  • Addiction Research

Background:

  • Morphine dependence is a significant global health issue.
  • Developing effective therapeutic agents for opioid dependence is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the efficacy of 3,4,5-trimethoxy cinnamic acid (TMCA) in mitigating morphine-induced dependence.
  • To explore the underlying molecular mechanisms of TMCA's action.

Main Methods:

  • Animal models (mice and rats) were used to assess morphine dependence.
  • Behavioral tests included naloxone-precipitated withdrawal and conditioned place preference.
  • Western blotting and immunohistochemistry analyzed protein expression levels (pNR1, pERK, FosB/ΔFosB).

Main Results:

  • TMCA significantly attenuated naloxone-induced withdrawal behaviors and conditioned place preference in mice.
  • TMCA reduced various morphine-dependent behaviors in rats.
  • TMCA diminished the expression of pNR1 and pERK in the frontal cortex and pERK in the striatum.
  • TMCA suppressed morphine-induced FosB/ΔFosB expression in the nucleus accumbens.

Conclusions:

  • 3,4,5-trimethoxy cinnamic acid demonstrates significant anti-dependence properties.
  • TMCA may represent a promising therapeutic candidate for treating morphine dependence.
Keywords:
3, 4, 5-Trimethoxy cinnamic acid (TMCA)FosBMorphine dependenceNMDANucleus accumbens

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