EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON THE DEPENDENCE-PRODUCING PROPERTIES OF QIANG TONG DING (AP-237)

Qiang Tong Ding (1-butyry1-4-cinnamylpiperazine hydrochloride,AP-237 ) is an analgesic now widely used in China This compound was firstly synthesized and reported in Japan in 1968. The aim of present study is to assessthe dependence-producing properties of this drug, using self-administration expe-riment and precipitation test. Results from the intravenous self-administrationexperiments in rats show that AP-237 has a marked reinforcing effect indicatingthe existence of psychic dependence potential. By a series of precipitationtests in rats and mice, using different routes of administration (short-termintravenous or intraperitoneal injection, implantation of drug-containing sieveparticles) and different morphine antagonists (naloxone, diprenorphine and na-lorphine), in comparison with morphine, it is clearly shown that Qiang TongDing also possesses physical dependence potential but the potency is somewhatweaker than that of morphine.