Multigenerational and transgenerational inheritance of drug exposure: The effects of alcohol, opiates, cocaine, marijuana, and nicotine

Abstract

Familial inheritance of drug abuse is composed of both genetic and environmental factors. Additionally, epigenetic transgenerational inheritance may provide a means by which parental drug use can influence several generations of offspring. Recent evidence suggests that parental drug exposure produces behavioral, biochemical, and neuroanatomical changes in future generations. The focus of this review is to discuss these multigenerational and transgenerational phenotypes in the offspring of animals exposed to drugs of abuse. Specifically, changes found following the administration of alcohol, opioids, cocaine, marijuana, and nicotine will be discussed. In addition, epigenetic modifications to the genome following administration of these drugs will be detailed as well as their potential for transmission to the next generation.

Transgenerational modification of hippocampus TNF-α and S100B levels in the offspring of rats chronically exposed to morphine during adolescence

“…Recently, chronic use of opiates by parents has been reported to produce consequences in children with no direct contact with these substances (35)(36)(37). Epigenetic mechanisms are suggested to be responsible for this phenomenon (38,39).…”

Transgenerational attenuation of opioid self-administration as a consequence of adolescent morphine exposure

“…Transgenerational epigenetics refers to the transmission of a phenotype across multiple generations of a species in the absence of changes in the DNA sequence (Bohacek et al, 2013; Franklin and Mansuy, 2010; Gapp et al, 2014; Skinner, 2015; Yohn et al, 2015). The term is limited to effects that extend to a generation that was not exposed to the initial environmental manipulation.…”

“…Thus, in the absence of in utero exposure, grandoffspring of female animals that show an effect are demonstrating transgenerational epigenetic inheritance. There is mounting evidence that supports the hypothesis that preconception drug use has effects on subsequent generations (Vassoler et al, 2014a; Yohn et al, 2015). However, this distinction should not downplay the significance of preconception drug exposure on the F1 generation, as these also have significant implications for public health.…”

Exposure to opiates in female adolescents alters mu opiate receptor expression and increases the rewarding effects of morphine in future offspring

“…The full extent of the damage that adolescent drug exposure causes is unknown. Recently, it has been proposed that use during this critical period may affect not only the individual user but future generations as well (for review see (Vassoler et al, 2013; Yohn et al, 2015)).…”