L-type Ca²⁺ channel blockers inhibit the development but not the expression of sensitization to morphine in mice

The relationship between opioid actions and L-type Ca²⁺ channel blockers has been well documented. However, there is no report relevant to L-type Ca²⁺ channel blockers and morphine sensitization, which is suggested to be an analog of behaviors that are characteristic of drug addiction. We now studied systematically the effects of three L-type Ca²⁺ channel blockers, nimodipine, nifedipine and verapamil, on morphine-induced locomotor activity, the development and the expression of sensitization to morphine. The results showed that both nimodipine and verapamil attenuated, while nifedipine had only a tendency to decrease morphine-induced locomotor activity. All three drugs inhibited the development of sensitization to morphine. However, none of them showed any effects on the expression of morphine sensitization. These results indicate that blocking L-type Ca²⁺ channel attenuates the locomotor-stimulating effects of morphine and inhibits the development but not the expression of morphine sensitization.