Contemporary trends in drug abuse in London as reflected by toxicological investigation of autopsy specimens

Summary Contemporary trends in drug abuse during 1971 are illustrated by comprehensive analytical data for the drugs present at autopsy in 5 cases where drug use was evident. Interpretation of the quantitative results for the drug present are discussed within the context of each case.

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Zusammenfassung An Hand von umfassenden Analysenergebnissen bei Autopsien in 5 Fällen, bei denen Drogen als Todesursachen in Frage kamen, werden gegenwärtige Trends im Drogenmißbrauch während 1971 in London aufgezeigt. Es wird im Zusammenhang mit dem betreffenden Fall die Interpretation quantitativer Analysenergebnisse für die jeweilige Droge diskutiert.

     

THE EFFECT OF ADRENAL DENERVATION ON ACTH-INDUCED HYPERTENSION IN SHEEP

SUMMARY 1. The effect of surgical denervation of the adrenal gland on ACTH-induced hypertension in the sheep has been examined. ACTH (80 iu/day) was administered for 5 days to eight sheep before and after bilateral surgical denervation of the adrenal.
2. In intact sheep, ACTH-induced hypertension is associated with a significant increase in cardiac output and heart rate. Adrenal denervation obtained by sectioning of the lumbar sympathetic and splanchnic nerves supplying the adrenal gland did not alter the magnitude or time course of the hypertension, or the increase in heart rate.
3. Adrenal denervation did not affect the increase in plasma sodium, the fall in plasma potassium, the initial urinary sodium retention, the increase in water turnover or the changes in blood corticosteroids which are seen during ACTH administration to intact sheep. However, in these adrenally denervated sheep ACTH treatment did not significantly change cardiac output.
4. This study suggests an important role for a factor or factors from the adrenal cortex in causing ACTH-induced hypertension.     

Effects of morphine on hippocampal cells recorded in vitro

Intracellular recordings from CA1 pyramidal cells were obtained in the in vitro hippocampal slice preparation before and after the application of morphine sulfate. Two distinct effects were observed following addition of morphine (1.0 mM) to the bathing media, or application to individual slices through pressure ejection via large tipped pipettes. Within 3–10 min following morphine application CA1 cell membrane potentials began to depolarize (5–10 mV) toward firing threshold. Spontaneous discharge rates were increased and nonactive cells became active. Rhythmic firing at a rate of 5–8 Hz was observed for 30–40 min following drug application. The spontaneous rhythmic firing could be partially reversed by the addition of naloxone (0.1 mM) to the bathing media. The second effect of morphine was to potentiate the development of epileptiform discharges in CA1 cells in response to low frequency orthodromic synaptic stimulation. The findings indicate that morphine alters the excitability of hippocampal pyramidal cells and such changes are likely to be mediated by opiate specific alterations in membrane conductance and/or tonic inhibitory synaptic inputs.