Tramadol induces conditioned place preference in rats: Interactions with morphine and buprenorphine

Surveys and drug surveillance have demonstrated that the abuse liability of tramadol is considerably low in the general population but appears to be higher in opiate addicts, and this difference could attribute to the poly-drug abuse of opioid addicts, although this hypothesis has not been tested in the laboratory. The present study examined the interactions between tramadol and a full μ opioid receptor agonist morphine or a partial μ opioid receptor agonist buprenorphine in a conditioned place preference (CPP) paradigm in rats. Rats were conditioned with tramadol (2–54 mg/kg, i.p.), morphine (0.125–8 mg/kg, s.c.), buprenorphine (0.01–0.316 mg/kg, s.c.) or a combination of a subeffective dose of tramadol (2 mg/kg) with a subeffective dose of morphine or buprenorphine and the CPP effect was measured. The retention of CPP effect was also examined. Tramadol, morphine and buprenorphine all produced a dose-dependent and significant CPP. A smaller dose of tramadol (2 mg/kg) enhanced morphine- and buprenorphine-induced CPP and shifted the dose-effect curves of both drugs leftward. In addition, the combination of tramadol with morphine or buprenorphine prolonged the retention of CPP. These findings indicate that tramadol potentiates the rewarding effects of morphine or buprenorphine largely in an additive manner and support the general contention that tramadol has relatively low abuse liability.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload high-quality image (105 K)Download as PowerPoint slideHighlights► Tramadol produced dose-dependent CPP to a similar magnitude as other opioids. ► Retention of CPP in tramadol group was short-lived comparing with other opioids. ► Tramadol shifted the dose-effect curve of morphine and buprenorphine CPP leftward. ► Extinction of morphine and buprenorphine CPP was delayed by tramadol to 28 days.