What question did this study set out to answer?

Determine and compare the rate and extent of blood-brain barrier penetration for morphine, codeine, heroin, and methadone.

December 1, 1972Science

Blood-Brain Barrier: Penetration of Morphine, Codeine, Heroin, and Methadone after Carotid Injection

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Authors

WOWilliam H. OldendorfBinghamton University SHSusan HymanUniversity of Rochester Medical Center LBLeon D. BraunWest Los Angeles College

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Implication

Animal study demonstrates rapid differential blood-brain barrier penetration of opioids in rats, suggesting rapid brain entry underlies the strong addictive properties of heroin.

Key Points

Determine and compare the rate and extent of blood-brain barrier penetration for morphine, codeine, heroin, and methadone.
Administered a bolus of labeled morphine, codeine, heroin, or methadone with a diffusible reference substance into the common carotid artery of rats, followed by decapitation after 15 seconds.
Calculated brain uptake as a percentage relative to the diffusible reference substance, with complementary uptake kinetics evaluated following intravenous injection.
Brain uptake after carotid injection was below measurable limits for morphine, 24% for codeine, 42% for methadone, and 68% for heroin.
Intravenous injection corroborated carotid findings, demonstrating near-complete codeine uptake by 30 seconds and heroin uptake constrained primarily by regional cerebral blood flow.

Cite This Study

Oldendorf et al. (1972) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a768304ee08d608e595cd7d https://doi.org/10.1126/science.178.4064.984

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Implication

Animal study demonstrates rapid differential blood-brain barrier penetration of opioids in rats, suggesting rapid brain entry underlies the strong addictive properties of heroin.

Blood-Brain Barrier: Penetration of Morphine, Codeine, Heroin, and Methadone after Carotid Injection

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Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

Blood-Brain Barrier: Penetration of Morphine, Codeine, Heroin, and Methadone after Carotid Injection

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

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