Regional cerebral, ocular and peripheral vascular effects of naloxone and morphine in unanesthetized rabbits

Effects of morphine and naloxone were investigated on cerebral, ocular and peripheral blood flow in unanesthetized rabbits. Blood flow measurements were performed with the labelled microsphere method. Cervical sympathotomy was performed on one side the day before the flow determination. Naloxone 2 mg/kg b.w. i.v. had no consistent effect on cerebral, ocular or peripheral blood flow or on mean arterial blood pressure. Morphine 2 mg/kg b.w. i.v. caused a rise in PaCO2 of 0.9 kPa and tended to increase cerebral blood flow in all parts investigated. In the hippocampal region, caudate nucleus and collicles the increase in flow was about 30% which is more than expected from the rise in PaCO2. Blood flow in the retina increased while the other parts of the eye showed no consistent changes in blood flow. Morphine reduced the blood flow in the duodenum by 60%. Mean arterial blood pressure did not change after morphine. No effect of the cervical sympathotomy was detected on cerebral or ocular blood flow before or after morphine or naloxone. Thus, we found no evidence for a tonically operating opioid system controlling cerebral, ocular or peripheral blood flow. However, exogenously administrated opiate can influence blood flows in these areas.