Plasma cyclic amp in the morphine-tolerant rat

Abstract

Effects of morphine on plasma cyclic AMP leveis in the rat were investigated. Morphine (20 mg kg , s.c. + 4 mg kg/hr , i.v.) produced an increase in plasma cyclic AMP concentrations at 1hr and sustained elevated levels for several hours, but the levels returned to normal levels at 48 hr. the 48 hr increase in plasma cyclic AMP elicited by morphine (20 mg kg , s.c.) was far smaller than that of 1 hr; the plasma concentration of morphine was at the same level as the 1 hr. This indicated the development of tolerance to the morphine induced increase in plasma cyclic AMP. At 48 hr an epinephrine challenge increased plasma cyclic AMP to the same extent as in naive rats. Therefore, desensitization of peripheral tissues as being responsible for the increase in the plasma cyclic AMP could be ruled out. the development of tolerance by the sympatho-adrenal reflex elicited by morphine was suggested. In naioxone-precipitated abstinence, plasma cyclic AMP showed a 4-fold increase but. on spontaneous withdrawal, it showed on a slight but significant increase. It was concluded that plasma cyclic AMP is a sensitive index of tolerance to and dependence on morphine.