EFFECT OF MORPHINE SULPHATE ON TOTAL LIPIDS AND TRIGLYCERIDES CONTENTS IN SERUM AND BRAIN REGIONS OF RAT

The present work was undertaken to examine the effect of acute (35 mg/kg b.w.) and chronic (15-75 mg/kg b.w.) doses of morphine sulphate as well as withdrawal of the drug on total lipids and triglycerides levels in adult male albino rats (Ratus norvegicus) in an attempt to explore the changes occurring in serum levels and different brain regions. The data of the present work revealed occurrence of highly significant increases in total lipids of serum and different brain regions after acute and chronic administration of morphine and during drug withdrawal. The acute administration of morphine and during drug withdrawal led to significant increases in the triglyc- erides content of serum and in most the studied brain regions. On the other hand, after chronic administration of morphine, levels of triglycerides returned approximately to the normal values in serum, cortex, striatum and pons, while in cerebellum and thalamus- hypothalamus triglycerides level showed significant increases. Finally, the data presented here illustrate that morphine is capable of having a marked effect on lipids of serum and of different brain regions in rats.