Abstract
Morphine was identified in the adrenal medulla chromaffin PC-12 cell line by reversed-phase HPLC, following liquid and solid extraction. The morphine corresponding HPLC fractions (1.746±0.615 ng of morphine/million cells) were further analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and found to be identical to synthetic morphine. Furthermore, using primers derived from the human neuronal μ1 opiate receptor, we used RT-PCR to detect expression of μ transcripts from this cell line. The transcript was absent. The study conclusively proves morphine, but not a μ opiate receptor, is constitutively expressed in the adrenal medulla chromaffin PC-12 cell line.