Toxic effect of morphine and the antagonistic role of naloxone on isolated rat hepatocytes.

Abstract

Isolated rat hepatocytes when incubated with various concentrations of morphine exhibited a marked decrease in the level of glutathione and resulted in cell death. The formation of electrophilic intermediates make the cell more susceptible to peroxidative attack, which is reflected by the increase in thiobarbituric acid reactant material as well as lipid fluorescence. Pretreatment of cells with naloxone blocked the morphine induced damage and itself has no cytotoxic effects on the cells.