Ascaris suum, an Intestinal Parasite, Produces Morphine
by
Neuroscience Research Institute,
State University of New York,
Old Westbury, NY 11568;
Marine Sciences Research Center,
State University of New York,
Stony Brook, NY 11794;
and
Neurobiology Research Unit,
Department of Animal Biology,
University of Modena,
Modena, Italy.
J Immunol 2000 Jul 1; 165(1):339-343 1999 Sep;124(1):51-5

ABSTRACT

The parasitic worm Ascaris suum contains the opiate alkaloid morphine as determined by HPLC coupled to electrochemical detection and by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The level of this material is 1168 +/- 278 ng/g worm wet weight. Furthermore, Ascaris maintained for 5 days contained a significant amount of morphine, as did their medium, demonstrating their ability to synthesize the opiate alkaloid. To determine whether the morphine was active, we exposed human monocytes to the material, and they immediately released nitric oxide in a naloxone-reversible manner. The anatomic distribution of morphine immunoreactivity reveals that the material is in the subcuticle layers and in the animals' nerve chords. Furthermore, as determined by RT-PCR, Ascaris does not express the transcript of the neuronal mu receptor. Failure to demonstrate the expression of this opioid receptor, as well as the morphine-like tissue localization in Ascaris, suggests that the endogenous morphine is intended for secretion into the microenvironment.

Pain
Frogs
Arousal
Morphine
Tramadol
Why itch?
Methadone
Opiated frogs
Endomorphins
P-glycoprotein
Opiated worms
Opiated crickets
Discounting rewards
Fentanyl and ketamine
Opioids, mood and cognition
Opioids, dopamine and alcohol
Opioids, goldfish and the giant toad
Heroin, cocaine and the squirrel monkey

Refs
and further reading

HOME
HedWeb
Nootropics
cocaine.wiki
Future Opioids
BLTC Research
MDMA/Ecstasy
Superhapiness?
Utopian Surgery?
The Abolitionist Project
The Hedonistic Imperative
The Reproductive Revolution
Critique of Huxley's Brave New World

The Good Drug Guide
The Responsible Parent's Guide
To Healthy Mood Boosters For All The Family