Mechanism of morphine-induced mydriasis in the cat

Neurons that increased their firing rate in response to light stimulation were recorded from the pretectal region and the anterior oculomotor nucleus of sedated immobilized cats while morphine (2 mg/kg iv) was administered. The dose produced mydriasis and an increase in spontaneous firing rate of all light-sensitive neurons recorded from the anterior oculomotor nucleus. This suggested that morphine did not produce mydriasis through inhibition of the third nerve. Phenoxybenzamine, iv or topically, antagonized the mydriasis, indicating a peripheral source of sympathetic input as the basis for morphine-induced mydriasis. Morphine (2 mg/kg iv), administered 1 h after adrenalectomy, produced miosis and increased the spontaneous firing rate of light-sensitive neurons recorded from the oculomotor nucleus. These observations suggest that, in the cat, although morphine activates the oculomotor neurons to produce miosis, the effect is masked by the morphine-induced release of catecholamines, mainly from the adrenal glands, which produced mydriasis.