Intrathecal Morphine Reduces Infarct Size in a Rat Model of Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury

Abstract

Our findings suggest that spinally-administered morphine provides a previously unrecognized cardioprotective benefit. In anesthetized rats subjected to ischemia-reperfusion injury, we show that very small doses of intrathecal morphine reduce infarct size in rats, and this benefit is as great as that provided by much larger doses of IV morphine.