Ibogaine, an indole alkaloid, has been proposed for treatment of drug addiction, yet its mechanism, site of action, and possible neurotoxicity have not been determined. Since neuronal injury is known to activate neurologlial cells, we investigated potential neurotoxic effects of this drug in rats by examining expression of specific glial markers. After treatment with ibogaine (100 mg kg-1 i.p.;...
Because of anecdotal reports in which ibogaine eliminates opioid withdrawal symptoms in humans, we studied this phenomenon in the rat model. Ibogaine (5, 10, 20 and 40 mg kg-1, s.c.) was administered 15 min before naloxone (0.5 mg kg-1, s.c.) in morphine dependent rats (3 days after the s.c. implantation of a 75 mg morphine pellet). Of the 12 withdrawal signs scored, the only significant...