Microsomal Metabolism of Morphine in a Hyperbaric Helium Environment
Abstract
The effects of hyperbaric helium (21 ata) on the in-vitro microsomal metabolism of morphine was investigated, using liver homogenates from male Spraque-Dawley rats incubated with 14C-morphine at 37C in specially designed pressure vessels. Pressurized incubations were performed by charging the vessels with a gas mixture of 0.98% oxygen in helium, to a pressure of 294 psig. Control incubations were performed by flushing the vessels with a gas mixture of 80% helium-20% oxygen, at a pressure of 1 ata, but were otherwise identical to pressurized experiments. Morphine and metabolites in the incubation medium were separated by thin layer chromatography after extraction in appropriate solvents, and were quantitated by liquid scintillation counting. These techniques allowed evaluation of both glucuronide formation and N-demethylation of morphine. Under conditions where microsomal enzyme concentration was rate limiting. it was found that there were no differences in glucuronide or normorphine formation between control and pressurized incubations.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1970
- Accession Number
- AD0740981
Entities
People
- A. Small
- J. W. Wheatley
Organizations
- Naval Medical Research Center