Absence of morphine-binding activity in serum from heroin addicts.

Overview

Sera from heroin addicts and normal volunteers were assayed for their immuno-globulin concentration and for their capacity to bind ¹⁴C-morphine. A significant increase in the serum concentration of immunoglobulin A, G and M was found in the serum of heroin addicts as compared to the normal subjects. Serum from only one addict was found to bind significant amounts of labelled morphine. As a group, sera from the addicts did not bind more ¹⁴C-morphine than did normal serum.