The
opioid withdrawal syndrome is defined as a complex phenomenon involving multiple cellular adaptations, which leads to the emergence of aversive physical and affective signs. The
m-trifluoromethyl-diphenyl diselenide (m-CF3-PhSe)2 elicits an
antidepressant-like effect by modulating the
opioid system in different animal models of
mood disorders. Notably, repeated exposure to (m-CF3-PhSe)2 developed neither tolerance nor withdrawal signs in mice. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether (m-CF3-PhSe)2 attenuates the physical signs and the depressive-like phenotype during
morphine withdrawal through its
neuroprotective effects on oxidative stress, the
NMDA receptor and the proBDNF/mBDNF signaling in the hippocampus of mice. Adult Swiss mice received
saline solution or escalating doses (20-100 mg/kg, sc) of
morphine for six days. For the next three days, the animals were treated with
canola oil, (m-CF3-PhSe)2 (5 and 10 mg/kg, ig) or
methadone (5 mg/kg, sc) whereas
morphine injections were discontinued. On day 9, physical withdrawal signs and depressive-like behavior were assessed 30 min after the last administration of (m-CF3-PhSe)2. Although short-term treatment with (m-CF3-PhSe)2 at both doses suppressed the aversive physical and affective signs in
morphine withdrawn-mice, the highest dose of (m-CF3-PhSe)2 per se increased the teeth chattering manifestation. The intrinsic
antioxidant property of (m-CF3-PhSe)2 modulated oxidative stress, it also restored the
NMDA receptor levels in the hippocampus of
morphine withdrawn-mice. Besides, (m-CF3-PhSe)2 downregulated the proBDNF/p-75NTR/JNK pro-apoptotic pathway without affecting the mBDNF/TrkB/ERK/CREB pro-survival signaling in the hippocampus of
morphine withdrawn-mice. The results show that (m-CF3-PhSe)2 treatment modulated the hippocampal neurotoxic adaptations and abolished the depressive-like phenotype following
morphine withdrawal in mice.