title: Effects of chronic methadone treatment on maternal body weight and food and water consumption in rats.
abstract: Body weight gain and food and water consumption of female rats receiving daily methadone injections (5 mg/kg) intraperitoneally prior to mating and during gestation and lactation were studied. In contrast to saline-injected mothers, methadone-treated females had lower body weights throughout pregnancy, but gained weight during lactation; by postnatal day 21, both groups were of comparable body weight. No significant differences in food consumption throughout gestation or lactation were recorded. Total water consumption of methadone-treated rats was higher during the first 2 weeks of gestation and lactation, and lower during the 3rd week of lactation when compared to controls. These results demonstrate that methadone-treated rats have lower body weights throughout gestation and lactation, and that these weight deficits are not caused by insufficient food and water consumption.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects*; D004326:Drinking / Q000187:drug effects*; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D007774:Lactation / Q000187:drug effects; D008691:Methadone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal; D051381:Rats; D013723:Teratogens
chemical_list: D013723:Teratogens; D008691:Methadone