title: Effect of intrapartum meperidine on behavior of 3- to 12-month-old infant rhesus monkeys.
abstract: Potential long-term effects of intrapartum meperidine were studied in rhesus monkey infants whose dams received 0, 2, or 3 mg/kg meperidine, i.v., during labor (n = 5, 5, 3). Spontaneous behavior and cognitive performance were evaluated at 3-12 months of age. Observation of spontaneous behaviors indicated less age-related increase in quiet activities in drug-exposed infants. In the discrimination reversal test, drug-exposed infants had more balks (p = 0.008) and fewer correct choices (p = 0.008) during initial phases of the first reversal. Due to sex differences in the delayed alternation test, evaluation of drug effects on short-term memory was not possible. In the continuous performance test, drug-exposed infants performed better (NS) and had fewer omission errors (p = 0.034) during the second half of the test period. These initial findings suggest that short-term opiate exposure during labor can alter later behavior of infant monkeys.
authors.affiliation: California Regional Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis 95616-8542, USA.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Golub
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Donald
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects; D003216:Conditioning, Operant; D004193:Discrimination Learning; D005260:Female; D007743:Labor, Obstetric; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D008297:Male; D008614:Meperidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D011247:Pregnancy; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis
chemical_list: D008614:Meperidine