An analysis of the phenomenon of acute tolerance to morphine in the guinea-pig isolated ileum.

1 The observations which Paton (1957) interpreted as 'acute tolerance' and 'dependence' have been confirmed for coaxially stimulated segments of guinea-pig ileum and extended to the contractions evoked by field stimulation in the myenteric plexus-longitudinal muscle preparation. Evidence is adduced that the morphine receptors of the myenteric plexus are not involved in the two phenomena. 2 The contraction of the longitudinal muscle depressed by low concentrations of morphine, or levorphanol, can be restored to control level not only by high concentrations of morphine but also by levorphanol and equally well by its (+)-isomer, dextrorphan, which does not fulfil the stereospecific requirements of the morphine receptor. Acetylcholine output was not increased. 3 When, after restoration of the twitch by high concentrations of morphine, the drug is washed out, contractions become depressed. This effect cannot be due to 'dependence' because either morphine or its antagonist, naloxone, restore the twitch again. 4 In the concentrations used, morphine, levorphanol and dextrorphan inhibit the cholinesterase of homogenates of the myenteric plexus-longitudinal muscle preparation by 10-15%. Since a concentration of physostigmine which causes a similar inhibition also restores the twitch, it is concluded that the described phenomena are best explained by the anticholinesterase effects of the drugs.