Morphine has been shown to alter various aspects of the immune response. We examined its effect on progression of the T-cell-mediated model, rat adjuvant arthritis. Saline, morphine or the opioid antagonist naloxone were administered to male Wistar rats via subcutaneous osmotic pumps implanted three days prior to adjuvant disease induction by an intra-dermal injection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in oil. The time of disease onset was found to be accelerated (day 11) for the morphine group as compared to the saline control (day 13). In addition morphine produced a significant increase in paw swelling (days 13 and 14), bone demineralization and bone erosions. A significant decrease in body weight as compared to the saline control was also observed. Naloxone had no significant effect on the degree of the inflammation seen, although like morphine it significantly increased bone demineralization and bone erosions as assessed by radiography.
