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Published on: August 9, 2013
Tolerance to morphine effects on renal disposition of xenobiotics in mice
Abstract:
Morphine administration (20 mg/kg s.c.) slowed renal elimination of phenol red in mice, raising plasma levels of this dye and reducing its levels in urine. After 9 days of twice daily morphine injections up to 100 mg/kg, an acute 20 mg/kg morphine challenge did not produce analgesia or hypothermia as in naive mice. This multiple dose morphine regimen also induced tolerance to the effects of the narcotic on plasma and urine levels of phenol red. Morphine, 20 mg/kg, reduced plasma p-aminohippurate clearance by 72% in naive mice but only by 56% in tolerant mice. However, reduction of iothalamate clearance after an acute morphine challenge did not show a statistically significant difference between naive and tolerant mice. These findings suggest that tolerance is more readily induced to the effects of narcotic on renal blood flow and/or tubular function than to reduction of glomerular filtration. Tolerance to the acute effects of morphine on phenol red disposition is probably due to lessened response of blood flow or tubular function in chronically dosed mice.
Insights
Morphine tolerance in mice affects kidney function, reducing its impact on drug elimination. Chronic morphine use diminishes its effects on renal blood flow and tubular function more readily than glomerular filtration.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Nephrology
- Toxicology
Background:
- Morphine, a potent opioid analgesic, is known to affect renal function.
- Understanding the development of tolerance to morphine's renal effects is crucial for clinical applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the development of tolerance to morphine's effects on renal elimination in mice.
- To differentiate the impact of morphine tolerance on glomerular filtration versus renal blood flow and tubular function.
Main Methods:
- Mice received daily morphine injections for 9 days to induce tolerance.
- Renal clearance of phenol red, p-aminohippurate, and iothalamate was measured in both naive and tolerant mice after acute morphine challenge.
- Analgesia and hypothermia were assessed to confirm tolerance.
Main Results:
- Chronic morphine administration induced tolerance to its analgesic and hypothermic effects.
- Tolerance was observed in the reduced renal elimination of phenol red and blunted reduction in p-aminohippurate clearance.
- No significant difference in iothalamate clearance reduction between naive and tolerant mice suggested preserved glomerular filtration.
Conclusions:
- Tolerance to morphine's effects on renal blood flow and/or tubular function develops more readily than to its effects on glomerular filtration.
- The findings suggest that chronic morphine exposure alters renal hemodynamics and tubular handling of substances, contributing to tolerance.
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