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Anesth Analg 1985; 64:929-932
© 1985 International Anesthesia Research Society
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Morphine Concentration in Brain and Spinal Cord after Subarachnoid Injection in Baboons

M. A. Gregory, MSC, J. G. Brock-Utne, MD, FFA, S. Bux, BSC, and J. W. Downing, MBBCH, FFARCS

Departments of Physiology and Anaesthetics, University of Natal Medical School, Durban, Republic of South Africa.

Abstract

Tritium-labeled morphine was injected into the lumbar (L4—5) subarachnoid space of three baboons. The animals were sacrificed 3, 6, and 24 hr thereafter. Morphine concentrations were measured at five predetermined positions within the spinal cord, medulla oblongata, and frontal lobes of the brain by scintillation-count assay. The results revealed that morphine ascends in the subarachnoid space and is absorbed into the spinal cord and medulla oblongata in a time-dependent fashion. Ventilation was most depressed and maximal concentrations of morphine were detected in the medulla six hours after injection. Delayed respiratory depression, occasionally reported after intraspinal morphine injection, may therefore be caused as a result of the affinity of morphine for binding sites, possibly opiate receptors, situated within the vital respiratory and cardiovascular neuronal complexes of the medulla.

Key Words: ANESTHETIC TECHNIQUES, SPINAL—morphine • ANALGESICS, MORPHINE—Spinal






Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins Anesthesia & Analgesia® is published for the International Anesthesia Research Society® by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins with the assistance of Stanford University Libraries' HighWire Press®. Copyright 2006 by the International Anesthesia Research Society. Online ISSN: 1526-7598   Print ISSN: 0003-2999 HighWire Press
Copyright © 1985 by the International Anesthesia Research Society.