EFFECT OF ACUTE AND CHRONIC MORPHINE SULFATE ON ADIPOSITY AND FEEDING

Two experiments examined the effects of morphine sulfate on feeding and adiposity in female rats. Experiment 1 demonstrated that administration of 40 mg/kg morphine produced a decrease in feeding and adiposity, with a greater reduction in adiposity following repeated morphine administration. Experiment 2 addressed whether morphine produced the decrease in adiposity or if the reduction in adiposity was a result of the morphine-induced decrease in feeding. Since the decrease in adiposity was independent of food intake, the mechanisms by which morphine and the endorphins may affect adiposity were discussed.