[Changes in neurons and gliocytes of the rat mesoaccumbocingulate system following perinatal morphine administration]

To study the changes of neuron and gliocyte numbers and some morphometric parameters in mesoaccumbocingulate (MAC) dopaminergic system of rats after pre- and postnatal opiate treatment, 0.1 mg dose of 1% morphine hydrochloride solution was injected into the fetal amnion of Wistar female rats (n=4) at Day 17 post fertilization and intraperitoneally into newborn rats (n=4) at postnatal Day 4. Perinatal influence of morphine on MAC-system in rats resulted in the chromophilic degeneration, swelling and death of some part of neurons, decrease in the volume of the other (slightly injured) neurons. Neuronal injury was more pronounced after prenatal morphine treatment and was accompanied by the increase in both microgliocyte cell number and phagocytic activity. Morphine administration induced no changes in the satellite macrogliocyte number and in the average distance between these cells and the bodies of slightly injured neurons.