Acute and Chronic Morphine Sulfate Treatment Alters Ovarian Development in Prepuberal Rats

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Abstract
Morphine sulfate administered i.p. (50 mg/kg BW/day) to immature 21-day-old rats for 1 or 7 days alters ovarian follicular development without inhibiting the total body weight or the growth of the ovary, uterus, pituitary or adrenal. The acute effect of a single dose of morphine reduced the number of follicles initiated to grow without altering the number or size distribution of follicles in other growth compartments. Chronic daily administration of morphine for 7 days sustained the reduction in the initiation of follicular growth and reduced the number of follicles in growth compartments up to early antrum formation, This specific effect of morphine sulfate is discussed in relation to the role of gonadotropins in the maintenance and initiation of follicular growth and the known effect of morphine sulfate on circulating FSH and LH levels.