Antibodies to morphine as indicators of chronic morphine intoxication and impaired immune reactivity.

Chronic morphine treatment of rats for 2 and 4 weeks led to an increase in morphine-binding cells in the spleen, despite the general reduction of mononuclear cell content in the spleen and thymus. Simultaneously, serum antibodies to morphine (AbM) in haemagglutination titres 1:20 and higher appeared in 50% and 80% of animals, respectively. Animals with high titres of AbM had much weaker immune response to a thymus-dependent antigen (sheep red blood cells).

[Effect of active immunization with dopamine- and norepinephrine-protein conjugated on neurochemical and neurophysiologic parameters of withdrawal syndrome in chronically morphine-treated rats].

The impact of induction of antibodies to the catecholamines (CA) dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine (NE) during active immunization of rats with CA conjugated to protein (BSA) on morphine dependence, withdrawal syndrome, and neurotransmitter status was studied during 14-day morphine treatment. DA-BSA and NE-BSA immunization of rats provided lower plasma DA concentrations in naloxone-precipitated opiate withdrawal. However, it failed to lead to normalization of hypothalamic DA levels and exacerbated the withdrawal syndrome.

[Induction of autoantibodies to serotonin and catecholamines in chronically morphine addicted rats with manifestations of abstinence syndrome].

The possibility of formation of autoantibodies to neurotransmitters has been studied in experimental model of opiate addiction. Chronic treatment of rats with morphine that leads to formation of dependence, causes induction of antibodies to norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin. The latter could be considered as indicators of impaired neurotransmitter metabolism.

Induction of antibodies to morphine during chronic morphine treatment in rodents and opiate addicts.

The phenomenon of induction of antibodies to morphine in morphine-treated animals and opiate addicts was shown by means of ELISA. The reaction of the immune system to injections of a morphine solution had the characteristics of a primary immune response. Opiate addicts differed from normal controls in the level of antibodies to morphine of IgM class.

[Antibody formation to morphine and neuromediators in morphinized rats].

The paper demonstrates induction of antibodies to morphine and neurotransmitters (dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin) in rats treated with intraperitoneal injections of morphine hydrochloride during 2 and 4 weeks in increasing doses. A contribution of such antibodies to the mechanisms of morphine tolerance and formation of physical dependence is considered.

Biochemical resistance to development of morphine-dependence in rats: biogenic amines, its receptors and antibodies.

The level of norepinephrine (NE), epinephrine (E) and dopamine (DA) in hypothalamus and blood plasma along with antibodies to NE, DA and serotonin (5-HT) and characteristics of alpha 1-, alpha 2-adrenergic, D2-dopaminergic and S2-serotoninergic receptors in synaptic brain membranes were studied in two groups of rats predisposed or resistant to the formation of physical morphine dependence. The resistant animals were characterized by a significant elevation of DA levels in blood plasma, elevation of antibodies to NE, and by higher concentration of alpha 2-adrenergic receptors in the brain cortex and of D2-receptors in striatum. The affinity of D2-receptors to dopamine in resistant rats also was higher than in predisposed animals.

[Effects of morphine on adenylate cyclase activity in lymphocytes of healthy subjects and patients with alcoholism and opiate addiction].

The morphine dose 10(-7) M had practically no effect on adenylate cyclase (AC) activity in lymphocytes of healthy controls (n = 20). The same dose of morphine had a pronounced stimulating effect on the AC activity in lymphocytes of alcoholics in withdrawal (n = 16). In the group of opiate addicts in withdrawal (n = 9) morphine had also a stimulating effect, which differed significantly from controls (33.

Morphine influence on adenylate cyclase activity in peripheral blood lymphocytes of alcoholic patients.

The effect of morphine on adenylate cyclase activity in lymphocytes was tested in 20 normal controls, 16 alcoholics in withdrawal and 9 sober alcoholics. Alcoholics in withdrawal were characterized by a significantly increased stimulatory effect of morphine, whereas sober alcoholics showed an inhibitory effect. The morphine effect was abolished by naloxone and correlated with the severity of withdrawal and alcohol intoxication.