Abstract
WE have sought to extend previous studies1–3 on the possible relationship between the effects of morphine on behaviour and alterations of biogenic amine metabolism. We propose that if morphine alters the metabolism of serotonin and catecholamines in brain, changing the relative amount of their free forms available for synaptic transmission and degradation, then depletion of the amines before administration of morphine should modify the effects of the narcotic on behaviour. The recent report by Way et al.2 that depletion of brain serotonin inhibits the development of morphine tolerance in mice supports this proposal.
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EIDELBERG, E., SCHWARTZ, A. Possible Mechanism of Action of Morphine on Brain. Nature 225, 1152–1153 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1038/2251152a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/2251152a0
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