Study of the Effects of Morphine on Adrenal Corticosteroids, Ascorbic Acid and Catecholamines in Unanaesthetized and Anaesthetized Cats

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Abstract
Corticosteroids, ascorbic acid, noradrenaline and adrenaline in the adrenal glands of cats have been investigated after injecting (a) morphine or pentobarbital; (b) pentobarbital plus morphine, and (c) ACTH to anaesthetized-morphinized animals. A significant increase in adrenal corticosteroids and a decrease in adrenal catecholamines (both adrenaline and noradrenaline) were found after injecting 10 mg/kg of morphine; no change in the content of adrenal ascorbic acid was observed after single morphine administration. In the anaesthetized animals the changes of adrenal noradrenaline and adrenaline were insignificant. A significant decrease in adrenal corticosteroids was found after pentobarbital administration without any change in adrenal ascorbic acid concentration. Pentobarbital abolished the significant decrease in adrenaline produced by morphine but not the fall of adrenal noradrenaline that followed initial morphine injection; a significant decrease in the concentration of adrenal corticosteroids was found in the anaesthetized-morphinized cats; the concentration of adrenal ascorbic acid does not vary in these animals either. An increase in adrenal corticosteroids but no change in the content of adrenal ascorbic acid was observed after administration of ACTH to the anaesthetized-morphinized cats.

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