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The Effects Of Maternal Administration Of Methadone On Beta-Endorphin Content In The Brain And Pituitary Of The Rat Progeny, Randall L. Braun
The Effects Of Maternal Administration Of Methadone On Beta-Endorphin Content In The Brain And Pituitary Of The Rat Progeny, Randall L. Braun
Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects
Methadone is often used in the maintenance and detoxification of opioid-dependent pregnant women. This use of methadone during pregnancy is known to be associated with teratogenic effects observed in the progeny. The present study is an attempt to gain insight into possible pathophysiologic mechanism(s) responsible for these teratogenic effects: specifically, a relationship between maternal methadone administration and the content of the endogenous opioid peptide, beta-endorphin, in the brain and pituitary of the rat progeny.
In brief, nulliparous mature female Sprague-Dawley rats received daily injections (5 mg./kg.) of methadone hydrochloride (methadone-treated) or a similar volume of physiological saline (controls), treatment started …