A preliminary study on the distribution of morphine and its glucuronides in the subcompartments of blood.

[Abstract ] The distribution of morphine, morphine-3-glucuronide (M3G), and morphine-6-glucuronide (M6G) in whole blood, plasma, and packed erythrocytes was studied. Parameters investigated were the hematocrit values (10, 42, 44, and 71%) and the water content of the samples. The blood-to-plasma ratio of morphine concentrations was unaffected by variations in hematocrit and water content, whereas the corresponding ratios for M3G and M6G were strongly influenced. Ratios were 0.53 to 0.65 and 0.52 to 0.62 in specimens with average hematocrit values (42 and 44%, respectively), and the ratios were 0.81 or 0.89 (hematocrit 10%) and 0.27 or 0.28 (hemalocrit 71%) in blood samples with different he…