Growth, development and activity in rat offspring following maternal drug exposure

Abstract

Seventy-nine Sprague-Dawley derived primimparous rats were injected subcutaneously throughout pregnancy and the nursing period with either (1) 30 mg/kg of pure nicotine, (2) 5.0 mg/kg methamphetamine HCL, (3) saline vehicle, or, (4) non-injected. Vital and developmental measures were taken on the offspring throughout the nursing period and for one additional week. Metamphetamine-injected females had a shorter, and nicotine-injected females a longer gestational period, and both gained less weight over the 21-day period than the control groups. The pups of methamphetamine and nicotine dams were significantly underweight at birth and the 28 day postnatal period and exhibited developmental delay. Male offspring were divided into behavioral, aging, and autopsy on Day 28. Male offspring of methamphetamine-injected dams remained significantly lighter in weight for the first 15 months of life (aging groups). Their counterparts in the behavioral groups and the offspring of non-injected dams exhibited significantly greater activity for eight of the first twelve monthly assessments which began at 90 days of age. Additional vital, performance, and sensory measures will continue throughout the lifespan of the animals.

Effect of methamphetamine exposure and cross‐fostering on sensorimotor development of male and female rat pups

“…Similarly, Martin, Martin, Radow, and Sigman (1976) demonstrated decreased birth weight after M administration (5 mg/kg twice daily). Additionally, our data show changes in weight gain during lactation in rat pups.…”

Effect of methamphetamine exposure during prenatal and preweaning periods lasts for generations in rats

“…Moreover, our previous finding demonstrating that rat pups exposed prenatally to daily dose of 5 mg/kg of MA impairs their locomotor activity (Š lamberová et al, 2006). There are studies showing that this dose results in fetal brain drug concentrations, which approximate those reported in human infants whose mothers abuse MA (Acuff-Smith, Schilling, Fisher, & Vorhees, 1996;Cho, Lyu, Lee, Kim, & Chin, 1991;Martin, Martin, Radow, & Sigman, 1976;Won, Bubula, McCoy, & Heller, 2001;Yamamoto, Yamamoto, Fukui, & Kurishita, 1992). The concentration of the solution was 10 mg/ml, thus, each animal received the amount of .5 ml/kg of the solution.…”

Methamphetamine exposure during early postnatal development in rats: II. Hypoactivity and altered responses to pharmacological challenge

“…Exposure to MA on days E7-12 induced significantly increased activity changes in the offspring. Lower dose MA exposure during preand postnatal development (5 mg/kg x 2 per day) has been reported by others to produce increased running wheel activity when tested once per month beginning at the age of 1 3 months and continuing to 35 months of age (Martin et al 1976;Martin and Martin 1981). More recently, Cho et al (1991) found that prenatal MA exposure (1-4.5 mg/kg) produced increased locomotor activity in the offspring.…”

“…In rats, MA or amphetamine (AMPH) exposure during development is associated with long-term changes in locomotor activity and shock avoidance performance (for MA : Martin 1975;Martin et al 1976;Martin and Martin 1981;Sato and Fujiwara 1986; and for AMPH: Bell et al 1965;Clark et al 1970;Seliger 1973;Middaugh et al 1974;Nasello et al 1974;Hitzemann et al 1976; Nasello and Ramirez 1978;Monder 1981; Correspondence to: C.V. Vorhees et al 1982;Buelke-Sam et al 1982;Satinder and Sterling 1983;Holson et al 1985;Vorhees 1985;Middaugh 1989). Neurochemically, early postnatal exposure to MA or AMPH has been shown to induce smaller dopamine (DA) and serotonin (5-HT) reductions than exposure in adults (Wagner et al 1981 ;Lucot et al 1982).…”