Abstract
The non-medical use of prescription opiates, such as Vicodin® and MSContin®, has increased dramatically over the past decade. Of particular concern is the rising popularity of these drugs in adolescent female populations. Use during this critical developmental period could have significant long-term consequences for both the female user as well as potential effects on her future offspring. To address this issue, we have begun modeling adolescent opiate exposure in female rats and have observed significant transgenerational effects despite the fact that all drugs are withdrawn several weeks prior to pregnancy. The purpose of the current set of studies was to determine whether adolescent morphine exposure modifies postpartum care. In addition, we also examined juvenile play behavior in both male and female offspring. The choice of the social play paradigm was based on previous findings demonstrating effects of both postpartum care and opioid activity on play behavior. The findings revealed subtle modifications in the maternal behavior of adolescent morphine-exposed females, primarily related to the amount of time females’ spend nursing and in non-nursing contact with their young. In addition, male offspring of adolescent morphine-exposed mothers (MOR-F1) demonstrate decreased rough and tumble play behaviors, with no significant differences in general social behaviors (i.e., social grooming and social exploration). Moreover, there was a tendency toward increased rough and tumble play in MOR-F1 females, demonstrating the sex-specific nature of these effects. Given the importance of the postpartum environment on neurodevelopment, it is possible that modifications in maternal–offspring interactions, related to a history of adolescent opiate exposure, plays a role in the observed transgenerational effects. Overall, these studies indicate that the long-term consequences of adolescent opiate exposure can impact both the female and her future offspring.
Highlights
Since the early 1990s there has been a steady increase in prescription rates for opiates (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration [SAMHSA], 2009), including prescribing for conditions ranging from routine dental procedures to menstrual cramps
The current findings demonstrate that exposure to escalating doses of morphine, confined to the adolescent period, can induce subtle modifications in subsequent maternal care and can alter the behavioral phenotype of subsequent offspring
Given the importance of opioids in m aternal–offspring interactions, and the critical role that mothers play in the healthy development of their children, it is possible that opiate use in adolescent girls could have repercussions for future generations
Summary
Since the early 1990s there has been a steady increase in prescription rates for opiates (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration [SAMHSA], 2009), including prescribing for conditions ranging from routine dental procedures to menstrual cramps. This escalation in prescribing, coupled with increased availability of these substances online (Forman et al, 2006), and the advent of long-acting forms of opiate analgesics such as OxyContin®, have combined to create a dangerous upsurge in both the medical and non-medical use of prescription pain medications (Paulozzi et al, 2006; Cai et al, 2010). The longterm impact of this increased use of opiates in adolescent female populations remains unknown
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