Morphine consumption during pregnancy exacerbates neonatal hypoxia‐ischemia injury in rats

Abstract

Objective Hypoxia‐Ischemia (HI) is the most common cause of death and disability in human infants. The use of opiate in pregnant women affects their children. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of morphine consumption during pregnancy and lactation on vulnerability to neonatal HI in rats. Materials and methods Female Wistar rats were randomly assigned into two groups: Group 1‐Rats that did not receive any treatment during pregnancy and lactation and Group 2‐Rats that received morphine during pregnancy and lactation. After delivery, male offspring were divided into four groups including: (a) SHAM, (b) SHAM/Morphine (SHAM/MO), (c) HI, (d) HI/Morphine (HI/MO). Seven days after HI induction, neurobehavioral tests were performed, and then, brain tissue was taken from the skull to measure cerebral edema, infarct volume, inflammatory factors, oxidative stress, and brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Results Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and BDNF levels in the HI/MO group were significantly lower than HI and SHAM groups. TNF‐α, C‐reactive protein and total oxidant capacity levels in the HI/MO group were significantly higher than HI and SHAM groups. Cerebral edema and infarct volume in the HI/MO group were significantly higher than the HI group. Conclusion Based on the results, morphine consumption during pregnancy and lactation enhanced the deleterious effects of HI injury in pups.

Brain‐derived neurotrophic factor and nerve growth factor concentrations in maternal and umbilical cord blood of opium‐addicted mothers

“…Morphine is one of the constituents of opium (Yarahmadzehi et al, 2020), on which most animal studies about drug addiction have been conducted. Bornavard et al (2020) demonstrated that morphine consumption during pregnancy reduced the brain BDNF level in pup of rats. Ahmadalipour et al (2018) observed that prenatal morphine exposure reduced the hippocampal BDNF levels and impaired the spatial learning in offspring of rats.…”

“…Long‐term use of opiates leads to physical and psychological dependence (Benéitez & Gil‐Alegre, 2017; Kosten & George, 2002). Consumption of opioids by women causes particular problems and affecting their offspring as opioids have the ability to cross the placenta, blood–brain barrier, and enter the mother's milk (Bornavard, Fanaei, Mirshekar, Farajian Mashhadi, & Atashpanjeh, 2020). Nevertheless, to date, the mechanism of the harmful effects of opium during pregnancy has remained known.…”

“…Evidence suggests that opioids affect the nervous system development, but the precise effect of these substances is not well understood (Bornavard et al, 2020; Gabay, 2006; Liang et al, 2016). Various complications of opioid consumption by mothers have been identified in childhood and adulthood period including inattention, hyperactivity, violence, as well as antisocial and depressive behaviors (Prins, Gomez‐Lopez, & Robertson, 2012).…”

“…Various complications of opioid consumption by mothers have been identified in childhood and adulthood period including inattention, hyperactivity, violence, as well as antisocial and depressive behaviors (Prins, Gomez‐Lopez, & Robertson, 2012). Animal studies have shown that opioids accumulate in the neonatal neural tissue and cause defect in the brain development (Bornavard et al, 2020; Chaves, Remiao, Cisternino, & Decleves, 2017; Kosten & George, 2002). Despite these complications, the results of a study by Mohebbi et al (2019) in five large cities of Iran showed 4% of Iranian women use opioids (Mohebbi et al, 2019).…”

Opium Effect in Pregnancy on the Dynamics of Maternal Behavior: Testing a Neurochemical Model

“…To induce pregnancy, every 3 female rats were kept in a cage with 2 male rats. A sperm smear was taken from the vagina of the female animals every morning, and those animals whose test was positive were transferred to another cage [37].…”