The effects of perinatal oxycodone exposure on behavioral outcome in a rodent model

Thitinart Sithisarn, Sandra J. Legan, Philip M. Westgate, Melinda Wilson, Kristen Wellmann, Henrietta S. Bada, Susan Barron

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

Opiate addiction is now a major public health problem. Perinatal insults and exposure to opiates such as morphine in utero are well known to affect development of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis of the offspring adversely and are associated with a higher risk of developing neurobehavioral problems. Oxycodone is now one of the most frequently abused pain killers during pregnancy; however, limited data are available regarding whether and how perinatal oxycodone exposure (POE) alters neurobehavioral outcomes of the offspring. We demonstrated that exposure to 0.5 mg/kg/day oxycodone in utero was associated with hyperactivity in adult rats in an open field. No significant effects of POE were detected on isolation-induced ultrasonic vocalizations in the early postnatal period or on learning and memory in the water maze in adult offspring. Our findings are consistent with hyperactivity problems identified in children exposed to opiates in utero. 2017 Sithisarn, Legan, Westgate, Wilson, Wellmann, Bada and Barron.

Original languageEnglish
Article number180
JournalFrontiers in Pediatrics
Volume5
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 25 2017

Keywords

  • Behavior
  • Hyperactivity
  • Learning and memory
  • Prenatal opiate exposure
  • Prenatal oxycodone exposure
  • Ultrasonic vocalization

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health

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