Mental and Social Health Commons^™

Fetal Cocaine Exposure Causes Epigenetic Changes In The Rat Heart, Kurt D. Meyer

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Cocaine abuse continues to be prevalent in the United States and other industrialized nations, in addition to the negative health effects that cocaine abuse has on the user, a mother who uses cocaine while pregnant also exposes the developing fetus to cocaine. Although there have been many studies of the effects of cocaine on the adult heart, studies of cocaine on the fetal heart and its potential delayed pathophysiological effects on cardiac function in adult offspring are extremely limited. The studies of the present project sought to enhance the understanding of the effect of cocaine exposure on the fetal heart …

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 …

The Relationship Of Alcohol Consumption In Rats To Morphine And Codeine Intake And The Metabolism Of Dopamine, Hsiu Fen Liu

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The effects of morphine and codeine free-choice alcohol consumption in male Sprague-Dawley rats were studied. Intakes of a 10% alcohol solution in milliliters per 100 gm. of body weight were on recorded weekly. No difference was found in the alcohol intake of rats given either a morphine-supplemented diet (0.01% of the diet) or daily injection of morphine sulfate (2 mg./kg.); however, there was a significant lower intake of water (p < .05) in those rats fed the diet with morphine. Total fluid consumption of both groups given the morphine-supplemented diet and daily injection of morphine sulfate was decreased (p < .05). It was found that morphine did not affect the percentage of total fluid consumed as alcohol or the weight gain.

Two levels of codeine phosphate (10 mg./kg. and 20 mg./kg.) were injected subcutaneously into rats twice a day. It was observed that the codeine significantly decreased alcohol intake in rats …

Effects Of Cocaine, Nicotine And Diet On Voluntary Alcohol Consumption In Rats, Zaida Raquel Cordero Loayza

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The consumption of alcohol is a problem not only in this country (U.S.), but also in many other places in the world. Thus we find the Indians in Peru, Bolivia and other neighboring countries (Ecuador and northern part of Argentina) consuming alcohol to the point that they become alcoholics, in addition to this they also chew coca leaves, plant from which cocaine is extracted.

In an effort to establish the cause for this behavior, we put Sprague-Dawley albino rats on either a poor or good basal diet. Once every other day the rats were injected with a solution of cocaine. …

Effects Of Dietary Factors And Morphine Administration On Voluntary Alcohol Consumption And Dopamine Metabolism In Rats, Claudia Smithson

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The effect of diet and dietary additives on voluntary alcohol consumption in male Sprague-Dawley rats was studied. Alcohol intake measured weekly and reported as ml of a 10% solution ingested per 100 grams body weight. A four week pre-experimental period was designed to determine individual tendencies to drink and thus to eliminate the high and low drinkers from the study. No difference was found in alcohol intake with either starch or sugar as the carbohydrate source; however, there was a greater weight gain ( p < .025) in those animals consuming sugar-based diets. Rats on poor-quality diets containing minimal amounts of vitamins and minerals continued to gradually increase alcohol consumption during the study. This diet, supplemented with coffee, caused the greatest significant increase in alcohol intake and the lowest weight gains. Addition of coffee to the diets significantly increased alcohol consumption (p< .005) but decreased growth rate (p < .0005) . However, when the poor quality diets were supplemented with vitamins and minerals, alcohol consumption was reduced by about 50% (p < .005) and weight gain was significantly increased (p < .0005).

The daily intraperitoneal administration of morphine sulfate significantly decreased alcohol intake (p < .02) and the per cent of total fluid consumed as alcohol (p < .02) but did not effect water consumption.

An attempt was …

Effects Of Poor Quality Diets With Various Dietary Factors Added And Exposure To Cigarette Smoke On The Voluntary Alcohol Intakes Of Albino Rats, Bonnie Emmerson

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Studies were conducted utilizing albino rats to determine the relationship of voluntary alcohol consumption with various dietary additives and exposure to cigarette smoke in combination with poor quality diets. Male, Sprague-Dawley rats, from weanling age to 100 grams, were given the various experimental diets and a free fluid choice of ten per cent ethanol or tap water. Fluid intakes were recorded and analyzed statistically. Individual variation was common with a generally low level of alcohol consumption when rats were fed a poor quality diet of common United States foods. The addition of caffeinated beverages and/or spices and relish caused increases …