Behavioral evidence for cholecystokinin-opiate interactions in neonatal rats

In adult mammals, cholecystokinin (CCK)-opiate interactions are complex and task dependent. Specifically, CCK antagonizes opiate effects in some cases, yet acts similarly to opiate agonists in others. The present study used behavioral measures to determine how CCK interacts with opiates in neonatal rats. CCK, at doses of 1 μg/kg and higher, markedly reduced isolation-induced distress vocalization in rat pups. Moreover, CCK selectively prevented naltrexone antagonism of opiate-mediated reduction in distress vocalization in 3- and 11-day-old rats. Yet CCK did not affect opiate-induced analgesia, as measured by the hot-plate paw-lift response. Thus CCK either did not interact with opiates or did so agonistically, within the same (low) dose range, and within subjects. These findings suggest independence of stress and pain systems in neonatal rats and demonstrate a functional interaction between CCK and opioid systems.