Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 5, 2026

Assessment of Morphine-induced Hyperalgesia and Analgesic Tolerance in Mice Using Thermal and Mechanical Nociceptive Modalities
Published on: July 29, 2014
[The role of morphine-6-glucuronide during longterm administration of morphine.]
1Abteilung Pharmakologie des Klinikums der Christian-Albrechts-Universität Kiel, Hospitalstr. 4, 2300, Kiel I.
Abstract:
It has been shown that an active metabolite- morphine-6-glucuronide-is formed in man after administration of morphine. In spite of the chemical variation, the glucuronide still possesses high affinity to opioid receptors and the polarity of the glucuronide does obviously not exclude penetration of the blood-brain barrier. After peroral administration of morphine the concentration of the metabolite rises and exceeds within less than 30 minutes the concentration of the parent compound. The affinity profile of morphine-6-glucuronide as measured by binding experiments in membrane homogenates deviates from that of the parent compound. It can not be excluded at the moment that morphine-6-glucuronide will prove superior to morphine for long term treatment, since the kinetic behaviour excludes sharp undulations of the plasma concentration and probably of the concentration at receptor sites in the brain. It is speculated that this type of pharmacokinetic behaviour will reduce tolerance phenomena and abuse liability.
More Related Videos
04:11A Conditioned Place Preference Protocol for Measuring Incubation of Craving in Rats
Published on: November 6, 2018
09:54Combining Laser Capture Microdissection and Microfluidic qPCR to Analyze Transcriptional Profiles of Single Cells: A Systems Biology Approach to Opioid Dependence
Published on: March 8, 2020
Related Concept Videos
Opioid Analgesics: Morphine and Other Natural Cogeners
Opioid Analgesics: Synthetic and Semisynthetic Opioids
Analgesia and Pain Management
Drug Accumulation During Multiple Dosing: Intermittent IV Infusions
Phase II Reactions: Glucuronidation
Opioid Receptors: Overview