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Perinatal morphine exposure alters peptidergic development in the striatum
Author(s) -
Tenconi Beatrice,
Donadoni Maria Luisa,
Finco Cristina,
Germani Elena,
Malosio Maria Luisa,
Di Giulio Anna Maria,
Mantegazza Paolo,
Gorio Alfredo
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
international journal of developmental neuroscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.761
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1873-474X
pISSN - 0736-5748
DOI - 10.1016/0736-5748(92)90052-2
Subject(s) - striatum , in situ hybridization , morphine , endocrinology , medicine , enkephalin , opioid peptide , substance p , met enkephalin , neuropeptide , chemistry , biology , messenger rna , opioid , dopamine , biochemistry , receptor , gene
It has been reported that perinatal exposure to opiates affects mRNA synthesis, body growth and brain development in mammals, including humans. We have observed that morphine administration in drinking water during the perinatal period alters peptide development in the striatum of the rat. There is a marked increase in substance P and met‐enkephalin content, the latter is maintained even at 30 days postnatally. The transient increase or earlier maturation of substance P content is correlated by a more precocious axon terminal organization as revealed by immunocytochemical staining. The increased metenkephalin content is correlated by a higher abundance of preproenkephalin A mRNA and this correlation is particularly evident at 15 days postnatally. At earlier times both northern blotting and in situ hybridization techniques fail to show any significant difference between control and morphine exposed rats, likely because the peptide content is not very different in the two groups or at least the gap is not as wide as at later times.