Nature 252, 708 - 710 (20 December 1974); doi:10.1038/252708a0

Changes in heroin self-administration by a rhesus monkey after morphine immunisation

K. F. BONESE^*, B. H. WAINER^†, F. W. FITCH^†, R. M. ROTHBERG^‡ & C. R. SCHUSTER^§

^*Department of Psychiatry, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637
^†Department of Pathology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637
^‡Departments of Pediatrics and Pathology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637
^§Departments of Psychiatry and Pharmacology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637

WE have investigated in one primate the effect of immunisation against an opiate on the self-administration of these drugs. Using the rhesus monkey, which will self-administer various drugs, including opiates and psychomotor stimulants¹, we have followed the response for heroin before and after immunisation against morphine. Results indicate that antibodies against morphine can block those effects of heroin on the central nervous system (CNS) that maintain self-administration behaviour.

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