Implications of endogenous opioids in the informational aggression syndrome

Starting from the observation that the informational aggression syndrome (IAS) in animals resembles the opioid abstinence syndrome, the authors studied the implications of endogenous opioids in experimentally induced IAS. They induced an IAS in rats, by means of specific sound signals and examined the animals' behaviour by a test used in the study of the opioid abstinence syndrome, as well as their reaction to noxious stimuli by means of thermal stimulation. The results show the implications of endogenous opioids in the IAS. During the first stage, a larger amount of endogenous opioids is secreted; specific symptoms of the opioid abstinence syndrome develop during the second stage. These symptoms can be prevented with clonidine, that has been used in the treatment of the exogenous opioid abstinence syndrome.