Abstract
Abuse of methamphetamine (METH), an illicit psychostimulant, is a growing public health issue. METH abuse during pregnancy is on the rise due to its stimulant, anorectic, and hallucinogenic properties. METH can lead to multiple organ toxicity in adults, including neurotoxicity, cardiovascular toxicity, and hepatotoxicity. It can also cross the placental barrier and have long-lasting effects on the fetus. This review summarizes neurotoxicity, cardiovascular toxicity, hepatotoxicity, toxicity in other organs, and biomonitoring of prenatal METH exposure, as well as the possible emergence of sensitization associated with METH. We proposed the importance of gut microbiota in studying prenatal METH exposure. There is rising evidence of the adverse effects of METH exposure during pregnancy, which are of significant concern.
Highlights
Illicit drug abuse has increasingly become a public health and social concern, worldwide
This review summarizes the toxicological effects of METH exposure during pregnancy on the offspring
The current study revealed that prenatal METH exposure may disrupt the excitation/inhibition balance in the brain, which is associated with emotional and stress-related impairments, as well as learning and motor processes problems
Summary
Illicit drug abuse has increasingly become a public health and social concern, worldwide. We highlight the value of gut microbiota in the study of prenatal METH exposure. Shen reported that chronically abused METH disrupts the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis in women Shen et al (2014), indicating that METH exposure during pregnancy may affect estrogen secretion in female offspring and damage its protective effects on the heart.
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