Narcotic Tolerance and Dependence Mechanism: A Neurological Correlate.
Abstract
We have examined a number of factors which may be involved in both the acute and chronic actions of morphine and related narcotics. Special emphasis was placed on the role(s) of membrane lipids and proteins. The results clearly demonstrate that both acute and chronic morphine treatments have marked effects (both inhibitory and stimulatory) on brain protein and phospholipid turnover depending on the brain region examined. Unfortunately, the effects of morphine on protein and phospholipid synthesis do not seem in any reasonable way to be associated with the known localization of narcotic receptors. The possibility was tested that chronic morphine treatment may lead to miscoding in the formation of m-RNA and in this way produce a qualitative change in protein synthesis. Such changes were not observed. Chronic morphine treatment was, however, found to significantly increase brain chromatin template activity. Extensive investigations of the opiate receptor material were also performed.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1975
- Accession Number
- ADA112981
Entities
People
- Horace H. Loh
Organizations
- University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine