Oral morphine consumption reduces lens development in rat embryos

Consumption of morphine, during pregnancy, in addition to inducing defects in the mother's nervous system function, caused defects or delays in the formation and evolution of embryonic visual system. In the present study, changes in lens development were assessed in embryos exposed to morphine in utero. Female Wistar rats [250-300 g] were mated with male rats and pregnancy was determined by sperm observation in vaginal smear. This day was considered as embryonic day zero [E0]. The females were then divided randomly into the experimental and the control groups. The control group received tap water and the experimental group received morphine [0.05 mg/ml] in their water. On embryonic day 13 [E13], blood samples were collected from the retro-orbital sinus of all animals for plasma corticosterone detection. On embryonic day 17[E17], the animals were killed by an overdose of chloroform and the embryos were taken out surgically. The embryos were fixed in 10% formalin for 30 days. At this time, the head of the embryos were removed for tissue processing and Hematoxylin- Eosin [HandE] staining. The samples were evaluated using light microscope and MOTIC software. Our data indicated that plasma corticosterone level was dramatically increased and the lens was thinner in the experimental group. [Although the proliferation of lens cells increased in the experiment group but that lens had delay in removing the proliferated and elongation cells with abnormal density in the lateral part of the lens in comparison with the control group]. Moreover, the opening of the eyelids was delayed in the off springs of the mothers who received morphine. This study showed that morphine consumption during pregnancy leads to defects in fetal visual system development, particularly in the lens, and eyelids

[Effect of oral morphine consumption during pregnancy on the tongue development in the Wistar rat embryos]

Morphine consumption during pregnancy could lead to defect and delay in nervous system development in the embryos. In the present study, development of the tongue of embryos whom their mothers received oral morphine during pregnancy have been studied. Female Wistar rats [200-220 g] after pregnancy were divided randomly into the experimental and control groups. The control group received tap water whereas the experimental group received morphine [0.05 mg/ml] in their drinking waters. On the day 19, the pregnant rats were killed by chloroform overdose and the embryos were removed surgically and were fixed in formalin 10%. Simultaneously, the rats' bloods were collected for corticosterone measurement. Weight and length of the embryos were determined. Then the embryos' heads were removed for tissue processing, cutting and Hematoxylin- Eosin staining. The subjects were evaluated using light microscope and MOTIC software. Number of the cells also counted. Un-paired t-test applied for statistical analysis. Plasma corticosterone level, embryos' weight and length did not show any significant differences between control and experimental groups. The large diameter of the tongue of the experimental group was decreased but the small diameter in two groups did not differ. Tongue cells numbers in the experimental group were increased but their size decreased. Decrease in the large diameter of tongue, increase in the cell number and decrease in cell size indicate the influence of morphine consumption during pregnancy on tongue development in the embryos

effect of morphine consumption on plasma corticosteron concentration and placenta development in pregnant rats

Previous studies have shown that morphine consumption during pregnancy may delay embryo development or cause abnormal nervous system function. The present study focused on the effect of maternal morphine consumption on development of placenta and blood corticosteron concentration in addictive pregnant mothers. 24 female rats, 170-200g weight, were used. The experimental groups after pregnancy received an oral dose of 0.05 mg/ml of morphine by tap water while the control group received only tap water. On 10[th] and 14[th] day of pregnancy, rats were anesthetized and placenta removed surgically, 1ml blood was collected from each pregnant mother from retro-orbital sinus, the concentration of blood corticosteron was determined by corticosteron Elisa kit after centrifugation. The fixed tissue was processed, sectioned and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Placenta was studied microscopically according to the thickness of layers, area of blood cisterns, and the number of cells. Comparing the plasma corticosteron concentration of the treatment and the control groups, not only a severe increase in the treatment group was detected, but also the thickness of maternal and embryonic portions of the placenta at day 10th and 14th of gestation was different significantly [p

Effect of oral morphine consumption in female rats on development of brain cavities, central canal and choroid plexus of their embryos

Previous studies have shown that morphine consumption during pregnancy may delay embryo development or cause abnormal nervous system function. The present study focused on the effects of maternal morphine consumption on brain cavities and central canal development in Wistar rats. In this study Wistar rats [average weight: 170-200 g] were used. The experimental group, after pregnancy, received 0.05 mg/ml of morphine by tap water while the control group received water. On the 17[th] day of pregnancy, the pregnant animals were anesthetized by chloroform and embryos were surgically removed. The samples were fixed in 10% formalin for four weeks. Then, tissues were processed and sectioned. Sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin [H and E] and examined for ventricle, central canal and choroid plexus development by light microscopy and MOTIC software. Severe reductions of the third and lateral ventricles were observed in the experimental group. In addition, an increase in the choroid plexus [CP] area in the experimental group with regards to the control group was identified. The study showed that oral morphine consumption lead to reduction in the third and lateral brain cavities and an increase in the CP area. This defect may cause behavioral changes observed in the F1 generation from addicted pregnant animals