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Sport Sciences for Health
Published in: Sport Sciences for Health 4/2021

01-12-2021 | Opioids | Original Article

The effects of endurance exercise training and methadone on acute and chronic pain responses in morphine-dependent rats going through the withdrawal syndrome

Authors: Mahmoud Moezie, Maghsoud Peeri, Hasan Matin Homaee

Published in: Sport Sciences for Health | Issue 4/2021

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Abstract

Background

Experiencing pain during the withdrawal period is one of the most significant complications of addiction to opioids. Thus, the main objective of the current study was to investigate the effects of endurance exercise training and methadone on acute and chronic pain responses in morphine-dependent rats going through the withdrawal syndrome.

Methods

In this study, 48 male Wistar rats (mean age: 9 weeks, mean weight: 295 ± 20 g) were randomly assigned to six subgroups, each with eight rats. The subgroups were control (Ctrl), healthy exercise (CT), control addicts (CTA), addicts treated with exercise (TA), addicts treated with methadone (MA), and addicts treated with methadone plus exercise (TMA). Substance dependence was induced through oral consumption of morphine. The interventional therapy protocol included a combination of methadone and a regular aerobic exercise program. Acute and chronic pain responses were evaluated using the model proposed by Dubuisson and Dennis.

Results

The results show significant decreases in the mean scores of acute and chronic pain in (CtA), (MA), and (TA) groups of morphine-dependent rats going through the withdrawal syndrome compared to the control group (Ctrl). Moreover, treatment of morphine-dependent rats with training (TA) alone or with methadone (MA) alone resulted in a significant decrease in the scores of acute and chronic pain compared to the animals receiving both training and methadone (i.e., the TMA group). However, no significant differences were observed among (TMA), (CT), and control groups in terms of the mean scores of acute and chronic pains.

Conclusion

It seems that the regular aerobic exercise program and methadone administration in the animal model can serve as useful tools for the modulation of pain in morphine-dependent rats going through the withdrawal syndrome. However, further studies are needed in human samples.
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Metadata
Title
The effects of endurance exercise training and methadone on acute and chronic pain responses in morphine-dependent rats going through the withdrawal syndrome
Authors
Mahmoud Moezie
Maghsoud Peeri
Hasan Matin Homaee
Publication date
01-12-2021
Publisher
Springer Milan
Published in
Sport Sciences for Health / Issue 4/2021
Print ISSN: 1824-7490
Electronic ISSN: 1825-1234
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11332-021-00749-4

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