Prenatal opiate exposure: long-term CNS consequences in the stress system of the offspring.
Our data show that prenatal morphine exposure induces long-term alterations in adult brain and behavior in both male and female rats, and these alterations are sex-specific. It is also evident that the alterations are not restricted to a single brain site or to a single neurotransmitter or neuromodulator. Moreover, there are long-term alterations in both the norepinephrine (NE) and opioid systems in several brain regions involved in stress responses and in the maintenance of homeostatic balance between the external environment, the brain and the rest of the body. Thus, this short paper reviews the prenatal morphine exposure data and highlights gaps in stress response to drug vulnerability/predisposition as an adult.
Vathy
Ilona
I
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Ullmann 111, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY 10461, USA. vathy@aecom.yu.edu
D000818:Animals; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000254:growth & development / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009294:Narcotics / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D051381:Rats; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000503:physiopathology*
D009294:Narcotics