Duration of interferon inhibition following single and multiple injections of morphine.
The increase in mouse serum interferon that occurs in response to poly I:C administration is markedly attenuated by injection of a narcotic preceding the polynucleotide challenge. A single injection of morphine is capable of inhibiting the mechanism(s) responsible for increasing serum interferon levels for a period of at least 9 days following the narcotic injection. Daily single injections of morphine for 5 or 10 days prior to poly I:C challenge do not amplify the extent of the decrease in serum interferon over that measured for a single injection, even though the amount of narcotic injected is increased on each successive day of the 5 or 10 day period. The implications of this relationship for the phenomenon of narcotic tolerance are evaluated and discussed as they relate to the immune processes.
D000818:Animals; D003864:Depression, Chemical; D007372:Interferons / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D051379:Mice; D009020:Morphine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D011070:Poly I-C / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors; D010948:Viral Plaque Assay
D009020:Morphine; D007372:Interferons; D011070:Poly I-C