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Morphine Blockade of Amino Acid Putative Transmitters on Cat Spinal Cord Sensory Interneurones

Nature New Biology volume 246, pages 222–224 (1973)Cite this article

Abstract

We have studied the effects of iontophoretically applied morphine on cat spinal interneurones, which respond to noxious and other cutaneous stimuli. The results show that morphine blocks both excitatory and inhibitory amino acid effects suggesting a non-specific receptor blockade. The analgesic action of morphine has previously been studied neurophysiologically in two ways. In one it has been found to inhibit spinal reflex responses to stimuli when given intravenously to a spinalised cat1. In the other, intravenously administered morphine has been found to inhibit nociceptive responses of interneurones in the dorsal horn of the cat spinal cord2, 3. The mechanism of action of morphine in these nociceptive pathways has not, however, been explored using the powerful technique of microiontophoresis which we describe here.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Zoology Department, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario

    J. DOSTROVSKY & B. POMERANZ

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  1. J. DOSTROVSKY
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  2. B. POMERANZ
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DOSTROVSKY, J., POMERANZ, B. Morphine Blockade of Amino Acid Putative Transmitters on Cat Spinal Cord Sensory Interneurones. Nature New Biology 246, 222–224 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1038/newbio246222a0

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