A morphological comparison of the regional distribution of methadone in human and rat brain as demonstrated by immunofluorescence.
The brains of ten narcotic addicts who had died from an overdose of methadone, and the brains of ten rats, given methadone for one month, were examined by the immunofluorescent technic. Positive neuronal fluorescence was seen primarily in the limbic systems of both species as well as in closely associated areas. In the human, Purkinje cell fluorescence was seen in the cerebellum, whereas only stellate cell staining was observed in rat cerebellum. Neurons of the hippocampal denate gyrus often fluoresced in man while only pyramidal cell staining was seen in this region of rat brain. The method should prove to be of value in the detection and tracing of narcotic drugs and may be helpful in investigations of drug tolerance and dependence.
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
D008691:Methadone