High-dose Morphine Impairs Vascular Endothelial Function by Increased Production of Superoxide Anions

Abstract

Collectively, the authors' results showed that high-dose morphine impairs vascular endothelial function via attenuation of biologic activity of endothelium-derived nitric oxide. Chemical antagonism between superoxide anions generated by nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidases may be the molecular mechanism responsible for the inactivation of endogenous nitric oxide after treatment with high-dose morphine.