Abstract
Summary
The effect of in vivo administration of L-thyroxin on in vitro N-demethyl-ation of morphine by rat-liver enzyme preparations from normal and morphine-treated rats has been investigated. Thyroxin given 7 days to otherwise untreated control animals has no effect on N-demethylating activity, but after 10-14 days it significantly depresses this activity. Administration of thyroxin for 7 days prior to and during morphine withdrawal reduces further the enzyme activity already markedly depressed after chronic administration of morphine, and prevents almost completely recovery of activity which occurs some 8-10 days after morphine withdrawal.
We express appreciation to Elmer Dyson and Donald Shaw for invaluable technical assistance.
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