title: The effects of morphine on human articular cartilage of the knee: an in vitro study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to determine the metabolic, histologic, and ultrastructural effects of morphine and its combination with saline and bupivacaine on human articular cartilage.
  
  
  METHODS
  In vitro study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nonfibrillated human articular cartilage was harvested and transferred into an experimental culture consisting of a control medium, saline, or a combination of morphine/saline or morphine/saline/bupivacaine for 12, 24, or 72 hours. Each sample was radiolabeled to assess proteoglycan synthesis. Histologic and ultrastructural effects were also examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found a significant, dose-related, transient decrease in 35SO4 incorporation in the morphine/saline samples at 12 hours, and in the saline only samples at 24 hours. We found no evidence of histologic or ultrastructural damage to the cartilage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Morphine and saline can both produce a transient decrease in 35SO4 incorporation that normalizes by 72 hours. This study does not suggest any contraindication to the use of intra-articular morphine as a postoperative analgesic.
authors.affiliation: East Bay Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Specialists, Fremont, California, USA.
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Jaureguito
authors.forename: Joseph F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Wilcox
authors.forename: Ronald A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Thisted
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cunningham
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Reider
mesh_terms: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000494:pharmacology; D002045:Bupivacaine / Q000494:pharmacology; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007717:Knee; D009020:Morphine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D013461:Sulfur Oxides / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D013461:Sulfur Oxides; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D009020:Morphine; D002045:Bupivacaine