Abstract
The effect of the chronic administration of levorphan, dextrorphan and morphine to rats on the capacity of hepatic enzyme preparations to demethylate a number of morphine- and morphinan-type analgesics was investigated. Morphine and levorphan (l-3-hydroxy-N-methylmorphinan) were found to be very effective in depressing N-demethylation while the dextro isomer of 3 - hydroxy - N - methylmorphinan (dextrorphan), a compound known to be without narcotic effects, was found to be relatively ineffective.
Neither the chronic administration of morphine or levorphan had an effect on the demethylation of the non-narcotic compound, 3-methyl-4-monomethylaminoazobenzene, which is known to be demethylated by an enzyme system other than that responsible for the demethylation of narcotic drugs.
The observed depression of enzymatic demethylation resulting from the chronic administration of narcotic drugs was not reversed by the simultaneous administration of the antagonists nalorphine or levallorphan.
Footnotes
- Received April 8, 1959.
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