title: Central effects of morphine and morphine-6-glucuronide on tissue protein synthesis.
abstract: The central and peripheral effects of morphine sulfate (Mor) and morphine-6-glucuronide (M6G) on the fractional rates of tissue protein synthesis (kappa s) were determined. We determined ks in conscious rats 2 h after intracerebroventricular injection of Mor (80 micrograms/rat), M6G (1 microgram/rat), or H2O (5 microliters). Intracerebroventricular Mor and M6G administration decreased ks in the liver by 19 and 18% spleen by 19 and 17%, and gastrocnemius by 18 and 17%, respectively. Intravenous injection of Mor (8 mg/kg) or M6G (0.4 mg/kg) did not affect ks in any of the tissues studied. Intracerebroventricular Mor and M6G resulted in an equivalent 10- to 15-fold increase in plasma epinephrine, 2- to 3-fold increase in norepinephrine, and 80-90% increase in corticosterone, with no change in insulin levels. Intracerebroventricular Mor produced a significant 30% decrease in arterial partial O2 pressure (PaO2) and no significant changes in arterial pH and arterial partial CO2 pressure (PacO2). Intracerebroventricular M6G decreased PaO2 (40%) and pH (from 7.44 +/- 0.01 to 7.34 +/- 0.02) and increased Paco2 (36%). The potential contribution of hypoxia to the opiate-induced decrease in ks was assessed in an additional set of rats exposed to 5% O2-95% N2. One or 2 h of hypoxia decreased protein synthesis in the brain by 47 and 56%, liver by 69 and 69%, and skeletal muscle by 51 and 52%, respectively. Our results indicate that Mor and M6G suppress tissue protein synthesis through central mechanisms, most likely mediated by opiate-induced respiratory depression in association with neural and hormonal alterations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, State University of New York at Stony Brook 11794-8194, USA.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hashiguchi
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Molina
authors.forename: V R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Preedy
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Sugden
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: McNurlan
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Garlick
authors.forename: N N
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Abumrad
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D005740:Gases / Q000097:blood; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000378:metabolism; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D008297:Male; D009020:Morphine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009022:Morphine Derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D005740:Gases; D006728:Hormones; D009022:Morphine Derivatives; C035349:morphine-6-glucuronide; D009020:Morphine; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate