Morphine consumption during pregnancy exacerbates neonatal hypoxia-ischemia injury in rats

Hypoxia-Ischemia (HI) is the most common cause of death and disability in human infants. The use of opiate in pregnant women affects their children. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of morphine consumption during pregnancy and lactation on vulnerability to neonatal HI in rats.

Female Wistar rats were randomly assigned into two groups: Group 1-Rats that did not receive any treatment during pregnancy and lactation and Group 2-Rats that received morphine during pregnancy and lactation. After delivery, male offspring were divided into four groups including: (a) SHAM, (b) SHAM/Morphine (SHAM/MO), (c) HI, (d) HI/Morphine (HI/MO). Seven days after HI induction, neurobehavioral tests were performed, and then, brain tissue was taken from the skull to measure cerebral edema, infarct volume, inflammatory factors, oxidative stress, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF).

Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and BDNF levels in the HI/MO group were significantly lower than HI and SHAM groups. TNF-α, C-reactive protein and total oxidant capacity levels in the HI/MO group were significantly higher than HI and SHAM groups. Cerebral edema and infarct volume in the HI/MO group were significantly higher than the HI group.

Based on the results, morphine consumption during pregnancy and lactation enhanced the deleterious effects of HI injury in pups.