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The purpose of our study was to identify central nervous system sites involved in the respiratory depressant effect of drugs that stimulate opioid receptors. Diacetylmorphine (heroin) was administered into several cerebroventricular regions of chloralose-anesthetized cats, while monitoring pulmonary ventilation with a Fleisch pneumotachograph. Administration of heroin (17, 50, 150, and 450 micrograms) into the forebrain ventricles, which was restricted to these ventricles, resulted in no significant respiratory effects. In contrast, administration of heroin into either the fourth ventricle or the cisterna magna resulted in a significant (P less than 0.05) decrease in respiratory minute volume (VE). In the fourth ventricle this was because of a decrease in frequency (f) and in the cisterna magna, to a decrease in tidal volume (VT). Intravenous administration of heroin in the same dose-range produced a decrease in VE, which was primarily due to a decrease in f. Bilateral application of heroin (70 micrograms/side) to each of three ventral medullary surface sites (Mitchell's, Schlaefke's, and Loeschcke's areas) known to influence respiration elicited a decrease in VE only at Mitchell's area. This decrease was due to decreases in f and VT. The role of this site in the action of intravenously administered heroin was tested by topical application of naloxone to this area in animals with respiratory depression evoked by intravenous heroin. Bilateral application of naloxone (15 micrograms/side) to Mitchell's area restored breathing to normal. These results lead us to suggest that the site of heroin-induced respiratory depression is a specific area (Mitchell's area) on the ventral surface of the medulla.
A M Taveira da Silva, and
J D Souza, and
J A Quest, and
F D Pagani, and
J M Moerschbaecher, and
A Buller, and
P Hamosh, and
R A Gillis
April 1988,
The Journal of pharmacology and experimental therapeutics,
A M Taveira da Silva, and
J D Souza, and
J A Quest, and
F D Pagani, and
J M Moerschbaecher, and
A Buller, and
P Hamosh, and
R A Gillis
June 2006,
European journal of pharmacology,
A M Taveira da Silva, and
J D Souza, and
J A Quest, and
F D Pagani, and
J M Moerschbaecher, and
A Buller, and
P Hamosh, and
R A Gillis
September 1957,
The Journal of pharmacology and experimental therapeutics,
A M Taveira da Silva, and
J D Souza, and
J A Quest, and
F D Pagani, and
J M Moerschbaecher, and
A Buller, and
P Hamosh, and
R A Gillis
March 1984,
The Journal of pharmacology and experimental therapeutics,
A M Taveira da Silva, and
J D Souza, and
J A Quest, and
F D Pagani, and
J M Moerschbaecher, and
A Buller, and
P Hamosh, and
R A Gillis
March 1983,
Journal of traditional Chinese medicine = Chung i tsa chih ying wen pan,
A M Taveira da Silva, and
J D Souza, and
J A Quest, and
F D Pagani, and
J M Moerschbaecher, and
A Buller, and
P Hamosh, and
R A Gillis
February 1953,
The American journal of physiology,
A M Taveira da Silva, and
J D Souza, and
J A Quest, and
F D Pagani, and
J M Moerschbaecher, and
A Buller, and
P Hamosh, and
R A Gillis
June 1964,
Japanese journal of pharmacology,
A M Taveira da Silva, and
J D Souza, and
J A Quest, and
F D Pagani, and
J M Moerschbaecher, and
A Buller, and
P Hamosh, and
R A Gillis
February 1958,
The Journal of pharmacology and experimental therapeutics,
A M Taveira da Silva, and
J D Souza, and
J A Quest, and
F D Pagani, and
J M Moerschbaecher, and
A Buller, and
P Hamosh, and
R A Gillis
August 1999,
Phytotherapy research : PTR,
A M Taveira da Silva, and
J D Souza, and
J A Quest, and
F D Pagani, and
J M Moerschbaecher, and
A Buller, and
P Hamosh, and
R A Gillis
October 2000,
Tropical doctor,
