Effect of morphine on regional cerebral oxygen consumption and supply

The effects of acute opiate receptor stimulation on regional cerebral oxygen consumption and blood flow were examined in 9 regions of the artificially respired, alpha-chloralose-anesthetized cat. Regional cerebral arterial and venous oxygen saturation were examined microspectrophotometrically and regional cerebral blood flow was monitored using radioactively tagged microspheres (15 +/- 3 micron in diameter). Oxygen consumption was calculated as the product of flow and oxygen extraction. In 8 cats, after control cerebral blood flow was obtained, and in 8 experimental cats after this same measurement was obtained before and 40 min after the administration of 1.5 mg/kg morphine sulfate; the cats' heads were simultaneously sawed in 3 places and quickly frozen in liquid nitrogen-cooled propane. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure were significantly decreased by treatment. The heterogeneity of venous oxygen saturation was significantly reduced by morphine. Average cerebral blood flow, oxygen extraction and consumption were not altered significantly by morphine. Regional cerebral blood flow in the hypothalamus, thalamic oxygen extraction, and hypothalamic and thalamic oxygen consumption were significantly decreased by treatment. This low dose of morphine may produce changes in cerebral neuronal and/or synthetic activity which lowers oxygen consumption in some regions rich in opiate receptors, while not affecting overall brain oxygen supply or consumption.