Antiarrhythmic effect of prolonged morphine exposure is accompanied by altered myocardial adenylyl cyclase signaling in rats

Abstract

We have studied the effect of sustained administration of morphine in high doses on myocardial adenylyl cyclase signaling and cardiac ischemic tolerance. Our results indicated that prolonged treatment of morphine substantially alters the function of myocardial G-protein-regulated adenylyl cyclase signaling and reduced susceptibility to ischemia-induced ventricular arrhythmias.

Keywords

• rat myocardium
• morphine
• adenylyl cyclase
• G-proteins
• arrhythmias