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Potassium‐Induced Release of Endogenous Morphine from Rat Brain Slices
Author(s) -
Guarna M.,
Neri C.,
Petrioli F.,
Bianchi E.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
journal of neurochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.75
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1471-4159
pISSN - 0022-3042
DOI - 10.1046/j.1471-4159.1998.70010147.x
Subject(s) - endogeny , potassium , chemistry , morphine , calcium , neurotransmitter , alkaloid , in vitro , chromatography , depolarization , pharmacology , biochemistry , endocrinology , biology , receptor , stereochemistry , organic chemistry
Endogenous morphine has been clearly demonstrated by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry in the brain, spinal fluid, adrenal glands, and liver of mammals. To clarify the role of endogenous morphine, its release from rat brain slices was studied in vitro in the presence of high potassium concentrations, with and without calcium in the medium. The perfusate was hydrolyzed, solid phase‐extracted, and then analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Depolarization due to high potassium concentrations increased the release of the alkaloid manyfold with respect to the basal value, and the release was dependent on the presence of calcium in the medium. These results suggest that endogenous morphine might act as a neurotransmitter or neuromodulator in the rat CNS.