Effects of chronic morphine administration on the reproductive system of the male rat.
The effects of chronic morphine administration on a variety of rat organs were examined. Only the prostates and seminal vesicles were affected by a 3-day period of morphine pellet implantation. In these organs, particularly the seminal vesicles, morphine produced a marked decrease in both the wet and dry tissue weight and a reduction in their secretory activity. This apparent morphine-induced atrophy of these important accessory sex organs was not due to a change in the nutritional status of the animals but rather appeared to be associated with a pronounced (87 percent) reduction in the serum testosterone levels of morphine-treated rats when compared to control levels. The effect of morphine on the secondary sex organs was reversed by withdrawing the animals from morphine administration for a period of 7 days. These data suggest that the role of physiological and endocrinological factors in the narcotic addict's sexual difficulties be examined.
D000818:Animals; D001066:Appetite / Q000187:drug effects; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D004327:Drinking Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009020:Morphine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009929:Organ Size; D011467:Prostate / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D012669:Seminal Vesicles / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
D013739:Testosterone; D009020:Morphine