Absence of morphine antagonism of prostaglandin E1-stimulated [3H]3',5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate accumulation in a rat brain mince system.

Prostaglandin E1 (PGE1)-stimulated [3H]3',5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate ([3H]cAMP) accumulation was studied in a rat brain mince system to determine if stimulation of net [3H]cAMP accumulation could be prevented or reversed by morphine. Incubated minces of whole brain minus cerebellum were prepared from naive, acutely morphine-treated, and morphine-tolerant and withdrawing rats. Basal levels of [3H]cAMP accumulation in the three groups were equal within experimental limits. Morphine addition to the PGE1-stimulated minces did not prevent or reverse stimulation of [3H]cAMP accumulation in any of the three experimental groups. The data do not support the thesis that PGE1-stimulated cAMP accumulation in brain is a locus of opiate action in the phenomena of opiate analgesia, tolerance, and dependence.