Identification of morphine in the adrenal medullary chromaffin PC-12 cell line

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. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V.