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%A Jean M. DiPirro
%A Alexis C. Thompson
%A Dr. Mark B. Kristal
%J Brain Research Bulletin
%T Amniotic-Fluid Ingestion Enhances the Central
Analgesic Effect of Morphine
%X Amniotic fluid and placenta contain a substance (POEF) that when ingested enhances opioid-mediated analgesia produced by several agents (morphine injection, vaginal/cervical stimulation, late pregnancy, footshock), but not that produced by aspirin injection. The present series of experiments employed quaternary naltrexone, an opioid antagonist that does not readily cross the blood-brain barrier, in conjunction with either peripheral or central administration of morphine, to determine whether amniotic-fluid ingestion (and therefore POEF ingestion) enhances opioid-mediated analgesia by affecting the central and/or peripheral actions of morphine. The results suggest that POEF affects only the central analgesic effects of morphine.
%N 6
%K POEF, analgesia, pain, rats, morphine, opioids, placenta, quaternary naltrexone, amniotic fluid, placentophagia, naltrexone methobromide
%P 851-855
%V 26
%D 1991
%I Pergamon Press
%L cogprints6211