[Effects of heroin exposure on the expression of caspase 3 in prefrontal lobe cortex, hippocampus and nucleus accumbens].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the expression of caspase 3 in the brain regions related to addiction, learning and memory in mice prenatally exposed to heroin and to ascertain whether postnatal apoptotic mechanism participates in neurobehavioral teratogenicity induced by maternal heroin abuse.


METHODS
A mouse model was established by administration of diacetylmorphine (heroin, purity 98.5%, product ID No.171206-200614) 10 mg/(kg x d) subcutaneously to pregnant BALB/c mice on embryonic day (E)E8-E18. The offspring were divided into heroin(Her) and saline(Sal) groups according to the maternal treatment. The expression of caspase 3 in prefrontal lobe cortex(PFC), hippocampus(HP) and nucleus accumbens(Acb) was detected by RT-PCR and Western blot on mouse postnatal day(P)14.


RESULTS
The mRNA and protein expression of caspase 3 were significantly increased in the areas of PFC, HP and Acb in Her group compared with Sal group(P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
E8-E18 prenatal exposure to heroin can induce apoptosis through caspase 3 activation in brain regions related to addiction, learning and memory, which indicates that apoptotic mechanism may be involved in neurobehavioral teratogenicity by heroin exposure in uterus.
Wang
Ying
Y
Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Key Laboratory of Environment and Gene Related to Disease of Ministry of Education, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, China.
DU
Ke-xin
KX
Li
Ming
M
Shi
Jing-hong
JH
Xie
Wen
W
D000818:Animals; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects*; D003932:Heroin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology / Q000201:enzymology*; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D018811:Maternal Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D008568:Memory; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009714:Nucleus Accumbens / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology / Q000201:enzymology*; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology / Q000201:enzymology*; D011247:Pregnancy
D003932:Heroin; D053148:Caspase 3