Naltrexone does not increase brain and body development in rats.
Two strains of preweanling rats (88 Long-Evans; 120 Sprague-Dawley) were given daily SC injections of either 50 mg/kg naltrexone or the equivalent volume of saline, from birth to postnatal day 21. Brain and body weights were assessed at the end of the injections, and in Long-Evans animals, significant differences were noted on both measures with the outcome favoring the control animals. No significant differences were observed between the naltrexone and control Sprague-Dawley rats. These results disconfirm the hypothesis that increased postnatal growth is accomplished by prolonged early postnatal opioid receptor blockade.
Petrie
B F
BF
Department of Psychology, Red Deer College, Alberta, Canada.
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D005260:Female; D006128:Growth / Q000187:drug effects*; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008297:Male; D009271:Naltrexone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013045:Species Specificity
D009271:Naltrexone