title: Morphine and brain growth retardation in the rat.
abstract: Fetal and infant rats were maternally exposed to morphine sulfate during gestation and lactation. Drug was administered twice daily by i.p. injection, with dosages gradually increased from 10 mg/kg/injection to a maintenance level of 40 mg/kg/injection. Offspring during the preweaning period had a reduction in body, brain and cerebellar weights, as well as in brain length and cerebral and cerebellar widths. Deficits persisted in young rats observed 51/2 weeks after cessation of drug exposure and in animals continuing to receive twice daily i.p. injections of 20 mg/kg/injection. These results indicate that maternal morphine treatment retards the growth of young rats and impairs brain development.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology* / Q000254:growth & development*; D005260:Female; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007774:Lactation; D008297:Male; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D009020:Morphine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D009020:Morphine