Opiate-receptor blockade reduces voluntary running but not self-stimulation in hamsters

Naltrexone HCl, a long-acting opiate receptor blocker was administered to female hamsters at two doses, 10 and 20 mg/kg, IP prior to 12 hr of nocturnal running or every 12 hr during access to hypothalamic self-stimulation to determine whether endogenous opiates played a role in either of these two motivated behaviors. Naltrexone suppressed total running activity and speed, and caused an increase in pause time but did not affect the rate of hypothalamic self-stimulation. Furthermore, weight gain was unaffected by four weeks of self-stimulation but was accelerated during two weeks of voluntary running. Thus stimulation of endogenous opiate receptors helps support high levels of voluntary running but is not involved in initiation of running or in maintenance of intracranial self-stimulation in female hamsters. Furthermore, the association of opiate receptor stimulation and increased somatic growth with voluntary running but not with self-stimulation suggests a possible facilitatory role for endogenous opiates in acceleration of growth by exercise.