EFFECT OF MATERNAL METHADONE ADDICTION ON OFFSPRING IN RATS

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 228  (2) , 300-303
Abstract
Female rats addicted to methadone via small dosages in their drinking water were impregnated and continued to receive the drug during pregnancy and lactation. Offspring were examined at birth and at age 21 days. Compared to controls whose mothers did not receive the drug, pups of addicted mothers at birth had significantly lower wt, brain wt and brain protein; litter size, brain DNA and brain acetylcholinesterase activity were not significantly different between the 2 groups. At age 21, pups of addicted mothers had significantly lower brain protein and brain acetylcholinesterase than did controls; body wt and brain DNA were not significantly different.