Morphine persistence in rat brain and serum after single doses.

The disposition of morphine in rat brain and serum was determined over 48 hr after subcutaneous doses. Free morphine was measured by a specific assay using 3H-labeling together with high-pressure liquid chromatography separation, with a sensitivity of 1 nM (0.3 ng of morphine per ml). This study revealed the persistence of free morphine in nanomolar concentrations over at least 24 hr after a single analgesic dose. The terminal half-life of morphine elimination was 5 hours. Total radioactivity was retained in the body at much higher concentrations. Similar disposition of [C-1-3H]morphine and [N-14CH3] morphine ruled out any major metabolic alterations at these positions, including N-demethylation. Irreversible binding to insoluble tissue components, which has previously been linked to tolerance, was observed only to the extent of less than 20% of total tissue radioactivity and was not unique to brain tissue. The persistence of morphine and its metabolites may be related to protracted opiate effects such as withdrawal symptoms after addiction.