1986Proceedings of the National Academy of SciencesOpen access

Presence and formation of codeine and morphine in the rat.

Josef Donnerer, Koichiro Oka, A. BROSSI, Kenner C. Rice, S. Spector

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Abstract

Endogenous codeine and morphine were identified in rat brain by immunological determination following HPLC. To demonstrate occurrence of a biosynthetic pathway to morphine in mammals similar to that used by the poppy plant, (+)-salutaridine, (-)-thebaine, and (-)-codeine were administered to rats intravenously. These compounds, which are intermediates in the synthesis of morphine in Papaver somniferum, caused a marked increase in the codeine and morphine levels in rat tissues. This provides evidence for a biosynthetic pathway to morphine in mammalians.

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Endogenous codeine and morphine were identified in rat brain by immunological determination following HPLC. To demonstrate occurrence of a biosynthetic pathway to morphine in mammals similar to that used by the poppy plant, (+)-salutaridine, (-)-thebaine, and (-)-codeine were administered to rats intravenously. These compounds, which are intermediates in the synthesis of morphine in Papaver somniferum, caused a marked increase in the codeine and morphine levels in rat tissues. This provides evidence for a biosynthetic pathway to morphine in mammalians.

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Available abstract

Endogenous codeine and morphine were identified in rat brain by immunological determination following HPLC. To demonstrate occurrence of a biosynthetic pathway to morphine in mammals similar to that used by the poppy plant, (+)-salutaridine, (-)-thebaine, and (-)-codeine were administered to rats intravenously. These compounds, which are intermediates in the synthesis of morphine in Papaver somniferum, caused a marked increase in the codeine and morphine levels in rat tissues. This provides evidence for a biosynthetic pathway to morphine in mammalians.

Key concepts: Thebaine, Codeine, Morphine, Papaver, Chemistry, Pharmacology, Opium Poppy, Endogeny

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