Changes in blood constituents in rats administered morphine and subjected to He-O2 at 11 ATA

Changes in blood constituents in rats exposed to He-O2 at 1 ATA and 11 ATA after administration of morphine (100 mg/kg) are reported. Injected animals are compared with controls (non-injected) in ambient air and animals subjected to He-O2 at 1 ATA and 11 ATA. Temperature of the chamber was controlled and O2 partial pressure and CO2 levels were maintained at standard conditions. After morphine injection the rats were pressurized and maintained for 4 h before decompression, at which time additional blood samples were obtained. Morphine-injected animals in ambient air showed significant decreases in hematocrit, MCV, glucose, and protein in the blood while showing an increase in the leukocyte count and blood potassium. Non-injected animals maintained in He-O2 at 1 ATA and 11 ATA showed no deviation from ambient air control animals. Injected animals in He-O2 at 1 ATA showed no changes from those in ambient air, but animals injected and exposed to 11 ATA did not have a decreased serum protein level or an increase in potassium.