The effects of opiates on calcium accumulation on rat peritoneal mast cells

Opiate agonists, morphine, levorphanol and beta-endorphin increased calcium accumulation in rat peritoneal mast cells. This effect was dose dependent and beta-endorphin was 10 times more potent than morphine. The stimulation was stereospecific and inhibited by naloxone. The site of the opiate action appears to be on the outer surface of the plasma membrane since lysis of the mast cell did not alter the response to morphine. Tolerance to the opiate effect was not seen after chronic morphine administration. Morphine did not stimulate histamine release even at relatively high doses in vivo or high concentrations in vitro. It is reasoned that the enhancing effects on external calcium accumulation may reduce the critical cytosol calcium level for effecting histamine release.