Opiate receptor blockade in juvenile macaques: effect on affiliative interactions with their mothers and group companions
by
Schino G, Troisi A
Dipartimento di Genetica e Biologia Molecolare,
Universita di Roma La Sapienza, Italy.
Brain Res 1992 Mar 27; 576(1):125-30

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that, in non-human primates, the offspring-mother attachment and other social bonds within the group have in common neural mediating mechanisms involving brain opioids. The subjects were 10 juvenile macaques living in a stable social group with their mothers and other group companions. A within-subjects design, balanced for the order of drug administration (naloxone 1 mg/kg i.m. and saline), was used. In the naloxone condition, the juveniles increased their relative role in maintaining proximity with their mothers, made more grooming solicitations, and received more grooming. We found no evidence for differential effects of naloxone on the affiliative bonds the subjects had with their mothers and other group companions. The subjects' increased demands for social comfort were evenly addressed to, and responded to by, both their mothers and other group companions. This finding supports the hypothesis that, at a neural level, the endogenous opioid peptides form a common substrate for different types of social attachments in primates.

Pain
Arousal
Morphine
Tramadol
Naloxone
Nociceptin
Oxycodone
Opioids and bonding

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