Occurrence of sexual maturation in chronic opiate-treated female rats

We have investigated the consequences of chronic morphine or fentanyl exposure on the timing of puberty in female Sprague-Dawley rats. The mu-receptor agonists morphine and fentanyl were either added to the drinking water or, in the case of fentanyl, in osmotic mini-pumps. Morphine and fentanyl treatment, beginning at postnatal day 22, delayed the time of the first ovulation/vaginal opening (VO). For example, morphine included in the drinking water (800 mg/l) delayed VO by 5 days. Fentanyl gave similar results but at lower concentrations (30 mg/l). Surprisingly, these treatments delayed but did not prevent VO; i.e. in the face of continued opiate treatment most rats ovulated normally. In contrast, identical doses of morphine blocked oestrous cyclicity in drug-naive adults rats. However, morphine-dependent rats, which have reached VO (and first ovulation) then became briefly acyclic before beginning regular cycles even though opiate treatment was continued. The effects of fentanyl on immature rats were identical with those of morphine, i.e. VO was delayed but ovulation occurred in spite of continued drug treatment. On the other hand, fentanyl did not prevent cyclicity subsequent to VO. Our observation that immature female rats can reach first ovulation despite chronic opiate treatment suggests that some degree of tolerance to opiates may develop. Such a mechanism could operate in normal drug-free rats, via endogenous opioid peptides, in the timing of puberty.