Blockade of morphine-induced place preference by diazepam in mice

The effects of diazepam on morphine-induced place preference were examined in mice. Pretreatment with diazepam (2 mg/kg i.p.) 30 min prior to morphine injection significantly abolished the morphine (5 mg/kg s.c.)-induced place preference, and this effect of diazepam was antagonized by pretreatment with flumazenil. In addition, pretreatment with diazepam prevented the morphine (5 mg/kg s.c.)-induced increase in dopamine turnover in the limbic forebrain. These results suggest that pretreatment with diazepam may suppress the rewarding effects of morphine.