Specific blockade of morphine- and cocaine-induced reinforcing effects in conditioned place preference by nitrous oxide in mice.
Neuroscience November 9, 2007 N Benturquia, S Le Guen, C Canestrelli et al.
Nitrous oxide, a gas that blocks NMDA receptors, did not produce a rewarding effect on its own but impaired the acquisition of morphine-induced conditioned place preference and blocked the expression of both cocaine- and morphine-induced conditioned place preference in mice. The effects lasted for four days after exposure. No changes were observed in tests of attention, anxiety, depression, locomotion, or anhedonia, indicating the gas's effects were specific to the conditioned place preference. The findings suggest nitrous oxide may have clinical potential for treating morphine and cocaine addiction.