The effects of adenosine receptor agonists and antagonists on morphine state-dependent memory of passive avoidance.

Pretraining administration of morphine (5 mg/kg, intraperitonically) in a step-down passive avoidance task led to state-dependent learning with impaired retrieval on the test day that was dose-dependently restored by pretest administration of morphine (0.5, 1, 3, and 5 mg/kg). This restoration was reversible by pretest naloxone administration. Pretest administration of adenosine receptor antagonists theophylline or 8-phenyltheophylline (8-PT) did not alter morphine-induced amnesia. However, both the antagonists inhibited the restoration of memory by pretest morphine (5 mg/kg). Adenosine A(1) receptor agonists N(6)-cyclohexyladenosine (CHA) or N(6)-phenylisopropyladenosine (R-PIA) only at the higher doses used, and adenosine A(2) receptor agonist 5'-N-ethylcarboxaminoadenosine (NECA), at all doses used, decreased morphine-induced amnesia in a dose-dependent manner. Pretest administration of low doses of CHA, R-PIA, or NECA significantly showed additive effects with low dose pretest morphine (1 mg/kg) in restoring memory. The promnestic effects of high-dose CHA and R-PIA were inhibited by theophylline or 8-PT but not by naloxone. The additive effects of low-dose CHA or R-PIA and morphine were inhibited by theophylline, 8-PT, or a higher dose of naloxone. The promnestic effect of NECA and its additive effect with low-dose morphine were both inhibited by theophylline and naloxone but not by 8-PT. It is concluded that activation of the adenosinergic system, through both A(1) and A(2) receptors, can reverse morphine-induced amnesia and is involved in morphine state of memory.