Abstract
A number of studies have shown that small doses of morphine enhance intake of ethanol solutions among rats (for a review, see [1]). Furthermore, this effect is centrally mediated [2,3]. The two primary metabolites of morphine are morphine-6-beta-D-glucuronide (M6BG) and morphine-3-beta-D-glucuronide (M3BG) [4,5]. Among people, M6BG produces analgesia [6]. Among mice, M6BG is about 45 times more potent than morphine when given intracerebrally, but only 3 to 4 times more potent when administered subcutaneously [7]. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that M6BG crosses the blood-brain barrier, and that its effects are not mediated by reconverting into morphine [8]. M3BG, however, is inactive with respect to analgesia.
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Bilsky, E.J., Wild, K.D., Nichols, M.L., Hubbell, C.L., Reid, L.D. (1992). Metabolites of Morphine and Intake of an Alcoholic Beverage. In: Naranjo, C.A., Sellers, E.M. (eds) Novel Pharmacological Interventions for Alcoholism. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-2878-3_35
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