Protective Effect of Exercise on Liver Oxidative Stress, Inflammation and Histopathological Changes after Morphine Withdrawal in ‎Rats

The harmful effects of morphine on the liver after withdrawal syndrome are unclear. In this experiment, we investigated the effects of exercise on oxidative stress, liver inflammation, liver enzymes, and liver histology after morphine withdrawal in rats.

In this experimental study, male Wistar rats (n=30) were randomly divided into five groups: ‎‎control, withdrawal syndrome (addicted), withdrawal syndrome+‎endurance training, withdrawal syndrome+‎resistance training, withdrawal syndrome+concurrent training. The experimental groups received morphine for 28 days, and after withdrawal, training interventions were done for 10 weeks. At the end of the study, the rats were sacrificed and liver was removed. Antioxidant activity ‎was measured and histopathological evaluation of ‎liver was done. Also, the TNF-α levels were determined.‎

Compared with control rats, the levels of total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and the activities of glutathione and superoxide dismutase (SOD) significantly decreased in morphine withdrawal group (P<0.05), while malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration, total oxidant capacity (TOS), and TNFα significantly increased in this group (P<0.05). However, training interventions reduced the concentration of MDA, TOS activity, and TNF-α and increased TAC, SOD, and glutathione. Histological analysis indicated major changes in addict group, while training alleviated these changes.

Morphine is used as analgesic in patients, but this study showed that it has harmful effects on liver function and histology.