1
|
Dwivedi I, Haddad GG. Investigating the neurobiology of maternal opioid use disorder and prenatal opioid exposure using brain organoid technology. Front Cell Neurosci 2024; 18:1403326. [PMID: 38812788 PMCID: PMC11133580 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2024.1403326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Over the past two decades, Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) among pregnant women has become a major global public health concern. OUD has been characterized as a problematic pattern of opioid use despite adverse physical, psychological, behavioral, and or social consequences. Due to the relapsing-remitting nature of this disorder, pregnant mothers are chronically exposed to exogenous opioids, resulting in adverse neurological and neuropsychiatric outcomes. Collateral fetal exposure to opioids also precipitates severe neurodevelopmental and neurocognitive sequelae. At present, much of what is known regarding the neurobiological consequences of OUD and prenatal opioid exposure (POE) has been derived from preclinical studies in animal models and postnatal or postmortem investigations in humans. However, species-specific differences in brain development, variations in subject age/health/background, and disparities in sample collection or storage have complicated the interpretation of findings produced by these explorations. The ethical or logistical inaccessibility of human fetal brain tissue has also limited direct examinations of prenatal drug effects. To circumvent these confounding factors, recent groups have begun employing induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived brain organoid technology, which provides access to key aspects of cellular and molecular brain development, structure, and function in vitro. In this review, we endeavor to encapsulate the advancements in brain organoid culture that have enabled scientists to model and dissect the neural underpinnings and effects of OUD and POE. We hope not only to emphasize the utility of brain organoids for investigating these conditions, but also to highlight opportunities for further technical and conceptual progress. Although the application of brain organoids to this critical field of research is still in its nascent stages, understanding the neurobiology of OUD and POE via this modality will provide critical insights for improving maternal and fetal outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ila Dwivedi
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Gabriel G. Haddad
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
- Rady Children’s Hospital, San Diego, CA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Ferrante JR, Blendy JA. Advances in animal models of prenatal opioid exposure. Trends Neurosci 2024; 47:367-382. [PMID: 38614891 PMCID: PMC11096018 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2024.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/15/2024]
Abstract
Neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS) is a growing public health concern. The complexity of in utero opioid exposure in clinical studies makes it difficult to investigate underlying mechanisms that could ultimately inform early diagnosis and treatments. Clinical studies are unable to dissociate the influence of maternal polypharmacy or the environment from direct effects of in utero opioid exposure, highlighting the need for effective animal models. Early animal models of prenatal opioid exposure primarily used the prototypical opioid, morphine, and opioid exposure that was often limited to a narrow period during gestation. In recent years, the number of preclinical studies has grown rapidly. Newer models utilize both prescription and nonprescription opioids and vary the onset and duration of opioid exposure. In this review, we summarize novel prenatal opioid exposure models developed in recent years and attempt to reconcile results between studies while critically identifying gaps within the current literature.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Julia R Ferrante
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Julie A Blendy
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Abu YF, Singh S, Tao J, Chupikova I, Singh P, Meng J, Roy S. Opioid-induced dysbiosis of maternal gut microbiota during gestation alters offspring gut microbiota and pain sensitivity. Gut Microbes 2024; 16:2292224. [PMID: 38108125 PMCID: PMC10730209 DOI: 10.1080/19490976.2023.2292224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Abstract
There has been a rapid increase in neonates born with a history of prenatal opioid exposure. How prenatal opioid exposure affects pain sensitivity in offspring is of interest, as this may perpetuate the opioid epidemic. While few studies have reported hypersensitivity to thermal pain, potential mechanisms have not been described. This study posits that alterations in the gut microbiome may underly hypersensitivity to pain in prenatally methadone-exposed 3-week-old male offspring, which were generated using a mouse model of prenatal methadone exposure. Fecal samples collected from dams and their offspring were subjected to 16s rRNA sequencing. Thermal and mechanical pain were assessed using the tail flick and Von Frey assays. Transcriptomic changes in whole brain samples of opioid or saline-exposed offspring were investigated using RNA-sequencing, and midbrain sections from these animals were subjected to qPCR profiling of genes related to neuropathic and inflammatory pain pathways. Prenatal methadone exposure increased sensitivity to thermal and mechanical pain and elevated serum levels of IL-17a. Taxonomical analysis revealed that prenatal methadone exposure resulted in significant alterations in fecal gut microbiota composition, including depletion of Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Lachnospiracea sp and increased relative abundance of Akkermansia, Clostridium sensu stricto 1, and Lachnoclostridium. Supplementation of the probiotic VSL#3 in dams rescued hypersensitivity to thermal and mechanical pain in prenatally methadone-exposed offspring. Similarly, cross-fostering prenatally methadone-exposed offspring to control dams also attenuated hypersensitivity to thermal pain in opioid-exposed offspring. Modulation of the maternal and neonatal gut microbiome with probiotics resulted in transcriptional changes in genes related to neuropathic and immune-related signaling in whole brain and midbrain samples of prenatally methadone-exposed offspring. Together, our work provides compelling evidence of the gut-brain-axis in mediating pain sensitivity in prenatally opioid-exposed offspring.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yaa F. Abu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Salma Singh
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Junyi Tao
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | | | - Praveen Singh
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Jingjing Meng
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Sabita Roy
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Myers AM, Bowen SE, Brummelte S. Maternal care behavior and physiology moderate offspring outcomes following gestational exposure to opioids. Dev Psychobiol 2023; 65:e22433. [PMID: 38010303 DOI: 10.1002/dev.22433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
The opioid epidemic has resulted in a drastic increase in gestational exposure to opioids. Opioid-dependent pregnant women are typically prescribed medications for opioid use disorders ("MOUD"; e.g., buprenorphine [BUP]) to mitigate the harmful effects of abused opioids. However, the consequences of exposure to synthetic opioids, particularly BUP, during gestation on fetal neurodevelopment and long-term outcomes are poorly understood. Further, despite the known adverse effects of opioids on maternal care, many preclinical and clinical studies investigating the effects of gestational opioid exposure on offspring outcomes fail to report on maternal care behaviors. Considering that offspring outcomes are heavily dependent upon the quality of maternal care, it is important to evaluate the effects of gestational opioid exposure in the context of the mother-infant dyad. This review compares offspring outcomes after prenatal opioid exposure and after reduced maternal care and integrates this information to potentially identify common underlying mechanisms. We explore whether adverse outcomes after gestational BUP exposure are due to direct effects of opioids in utero, deficits in maternal care, or a combination of both factors. Finally, suggestions for improving preclinical models of prenatal opioid exposure are provided to promote more translational studies that can help to improve clinical outcomes for opioid-dependent mothers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Abigail M Myers
- Department of Psychology, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Scott E Bowen
- Department of Psychology, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Susanne Brummelte
- Department of Psychology, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Rajalingam D, Boix F, Khoder A, Andersen JM, Paulsen RE. Distribution of morphine and methadone to the brain in a developmental chicken embryo model. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2023; 479:116731. [PMID: 37866706 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2023.116731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
The use and/or misuse of opioids by pregnant women would expose the fetuses to these drugs during critical stages of development with serious effects for the newborn, like the neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). We have revisited an established chicken model for NAS to describe the distribution of morphine and methadone to the brain and explore its validity as a valuable alternative to rodent models. For this purpose, chicken eggs were injected with a single dose of 10 mg/kg or 20 mg/kg morphine or 20 mg/kg methadone onto the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) on embryonal day 13. Whole brains and lungs were harvested and the concentrations of morphine, methadone and their subsequent metabolites (morphine-3-glucuronide and EDDP, respectively) determined in the brain and lungs at different time points using LC-MS/MS. Morphine and methadone, as well as their metabolites, were detected both in the brain and lungs, with significantly higher concentrations in the lungs. Pharmacokinetic modelling showed that the distribution of morphine to the brain followed a first-order absorption with transit compartments and linear elimination, with concentrations linearly dependent on dose. Moreover, methadone, but not morphine, reduced μ receptor (the main morphine receptor) binding, which can be of relevance for opioid tolerance. The present study is the first to report the brain distribution of morphine, which can be described by standard pharmacokinetic processes, and methadone in the developing chicken embryo. The present findings supplement the already established model and support the use of this chicken model to study NAS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dhaksshaginy Rajalingam
- Section for Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Department of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, P.O Box 1068, Blindern, NO-0316 Oslo, Norway
| | - Fernando Boix
- Section for Drug Abuse Research, Department of Forensic Sciences, Oslo University Hospital, Norway
| | - Ala Khoder
- Section for Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Department of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, P.O Box 1068, Blindern, NO-0316 Oslo, Norway
| | - Jannike Mørch Andersen
- Section for Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Department of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, P.O Box 1068, Blindern, NO-0316 Oslo, Norway; Section for Drug Abuse Research, Department of Forensic Sciences, Oslo University Hospital, Norway
| | - Ragnhild Elisabeth Paulsen
- Section for Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Department of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, P.O Box 1068, Blindern, NO-0316 Oslo, Norway.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Pande LJ, Arnet RE, Piper BJ. An Examination of the Complex Pharmacological Properties of the Non-Selective Opioid Modulator Buprenorphine. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:1397. [PMID: 37895868 PMCID: PMC10610465 DOI: 10.3390/ph16101397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 09/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The goal of this review is to provide a recent examination of the pharmacodynamics as well as pharmacokinetics, misuse potential, toxicology, and prenatal consequences of buprenorphine. Buprenorphine is currently a Schedule III opioid in the US used for opioid-use disorder (OUD) and as an analgesic. Buprenorphine has high affinity for the mu-opioid receptor (MOR), delta (DOR), and kappa (KOR) and intermediate affinity for the nociceptin (NOR). Buprenorphine's active metabolite, norbuprenorphine, crosses the blood-brain barrier, is a potent metabolite that attenuates the analgesic effects of buprenorphine due to binding to NOR, and is responsible for the respiratory depressant effects. The area under the concentration curves are very similar for buprenorphine and norbuprenorphine, which indicates that it is important to consider this metabolite. Crowding sourcing has identified a buprenorphine street value (USD 3.95/mg), indicating some non-medical use. There have also been eleven-thousand reports involving buprenorphine and minors (age < 19) at US poison control centers. Prenatal exposure to clinically relevant dosages in rats produces reductions in myelin and increases in depression-like behavior. In conclusion, the pharmacology of this OUD pharmacotherapy including the consequences of prenatal buprenorphine exposure in humans and experimental animals should continue to be carefully evaluated.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Leana J. Pande
- Department of Medical Education, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, Scranton, PA 18509, USA; (L.J.P.); (R.E.A.)
- Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine, Middletown, NY 10027, USA
| | - Rhudjerry E. Arnet
- Department of Medical Education, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, Scranton, PA 18509, USA; (L.J.P.); (R.E.A.)
| | - Brian J. Piper
- Department of Medical Education, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, Scranton, PA 18509, USA; (L.J.P.); (R.E.A.)
- Center for Pharmacy Innovation and Outcomes, Danville, PA 17821, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Dwivedi I, Caldwell AB, Zhou D, Wu W, Subramaniam S, Haddad GG. Methadone alters transcriptional programs associated with synapse formation in human cortical organoids. Transl Psychiatry 2023; 13:151. [PMID: 37147277 PMCID: PMC10163238 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-023-02397-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Opioid use disorder (OUD) among pregnant women has become an epidemic in the United States. Pharmacological interventions for maternal OUD most commonly involve methadone, a synthetic opioid analgesic that attenuates withdrawal symptoms and behaviors linked with drug addiction. However, evidence of methadone's ability to readily accumulate in neural tissue, and cause long-term neurocognitive sequelae, has led to concerns regarding its effect on prenatal brain development. We utilized human cortical organoid (hCO) technology to probe how this drug impacts the earliest mechanisms of cortico-genesis. Bulk mRNA sequencing of 2-month-old hCOs chronically treated with a clinically relevant dose of 1 μM methadone for 50 days revealed a robust transcriptional response to methadone associated with functional components of the synapse, the underlying extracellular matrix (ECM), and cilia. Co-expression network and predictive protein-protein interaction analyses demonstrated that these changes occurred in concert, centered around a regulatory axis of growth factors, developmental signaling pathways, and matricellular proteins (MCPs). TGFβ1 was identified as an upstream regulator of this network and appeared as part of a highly interconnected cluster of MCPs, of which thrombospondin 1 (TSP1) was most prominently downregulated and exhibited dose-dependent reductions in protein levels. These results demonstrate that methadone exposure during early cortical development alters transcriptional programs associated with synaptogenesis, and that these changes arise by functionally modulating extra-synaptic molecular mechanisms in the ECM and cilia. Our findings provide novel insight into the molecular underpinnings of methadone's putative effect on cognitive and behavioral development and a basis for improving interventions for maternal opioid addiction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ila Dwivedi
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Andrew B Caldwell
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Dan Zhou
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Wei Wu
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Shankar Subramaniam
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Nanoengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Computer Science & Engineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Gabriel G Haddad
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
- Rady Children's Hospital, San Diego, CA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Ho H, Zhang E. P-glycoprotein efflux transporter: a key to pharmacokinetic modeling for methadone clearance in fetuses. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1182571. [PMID: 37214474 PMCID: PMC10192552 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1182571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Harvey Ho
- Auckland Bioengineering Institute, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - En Zhang
- Chongqing Food and Drug Control Institute, Chongqing, China
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Beyeler SA, Naidoo R, Morrison NR, McDonald EA, Albarrán D, Huxtable AG. Maternal opioids age-dependently impair neonatal respiratory control networks. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1109754. [PMID: 37008014 PMCID: PMC10060555 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1109754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Infants exposed to opioids in utero are an increasing clinical population and these infants are often diagnosed with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS). Infants with NAS have diverse negative health consequences, including respiratory distress. However, many factors contribute to NAS, confounding the ability to understand how maternal opioids directly impact the neonatal respiratory system. Breathing is controlled centrally by respiratory networks in the brainstem and spinal cord, but the impact of maternal opioids on developing perinatal respiratory networks has not been studied. Using progressively more isolated respiratory network circuitry, we tested the hypothesis that maternal opioids directly impair neonatal central respiratory control networks. Fictive respiratory-related motor activity from isolated central respiratory networks was age-dependently impaired in neonates after maternal opioids within more complete respiratory networks (brainstem and spinal cords), but unaffected in more isolated networks (medullary slices containing the preBötzinger Complex). These deficits were due, in part, to lingering opioids within neonatal respiratory control networks immediately after birth and involved lasting impairments to respiratory pattern. Since opioids are routinely given to infants with NAS to curb withdrawal symptoms and our previous work demonstrated acute blunting of opioid-induced respiratory depression in neonatal breathing, we further tested the responses of isolated networks to exogenous opioids. Isolated respiratory control networks also demonstrated age-dependent blunted responses to exogenous opioids that correlated with changes in opioid receptor expression within a primary respiratory rhythm generating region, the preBötzinger Complex. Thus, maternal opioids age-dependently impair neonatal central respiratory control and responses to exogenous opioids, suggesting central respiratory impairments contribute to neonatal breathing destabilization after maternal opioids and likely contribute to respiratory distress in infants with NAS. These studies represent a significant advancement of our understanding of the complex effects of maternal opioids, even late in gestation, contributing to neonatal breathing deficits, necessary first steps in developing novel therapeutics to support breathing in infants with NAS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah A. Beyeler
- Department of Biology, Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, United States
| | - Robyn Naidoo
- Department of Human Physiology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, United States
| | - Nina R. Morrison
- Department of Human Physiology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, United States
| | - Emilee A. McDonald
- Department of Biology, Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, United States
| | - David Albarrán
- Department of Human Physiology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, United States
| | - Adrianne G. Huxtable
- Department of Biology, Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, United States
- Department of Human Physiology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, United States
- *Correspondence: Adrianne G. Huxtable,
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Hakomäki H, Eskola S, Kokki H, Lehtonen M, Räsänen J, Laaksonen S, Voipio HM, Ranta VP, Kokki M. Central Nervous System Distribution of Buprenorphine in Pregnant Sheep, Fetuses and Newborn Lambs After Continuous Transdermal and Single Subcutaneous Extended-Release Dosing. Eur J Pharm Sci 2022; 178:106283. [PMID: 36029997 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejps.2022.106283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Revised: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Buprenorphine is used during pregnancy for the treatment of opioid use disorder. Limited data exist on the central nervous system (CNS) permeation and distribution, and on the fetal exposure to buprenorphine. The aim of our study was to determine the extent of buprenorphine distribution to CNS in the pregnant sheep, and their fetus at steady-state, and their newborn lambs postdelivery, using three different dosing regimens. Twenty-eight pregnant ewes in late gestation received buprenorphine via 7-day transdermal patch releasing buprenorphine 20 µg/h (n=9) or 40 µg/h (n=11), or an extended-release 8 mg/week subcutaneous injection (n=8). Plasma, cerebrospinal fluid, and CNS tissue samples were collected at steady-state from ewes and fetuses, and from lambs 0.33 - 45 hours after delivery. High accumulation of buprenorphine was observed in all CNS tissues. The median CNS/plasma concentration -ratios of buprenorphine in different CNS areas ranged between 13 and 50 in the ewes, and between 26 and 198 in the fetuses. In the ewes the CNS/plasma -ratios were similar after the three dosing regimens, but higher in the fetuses in the 40 µg/h dosing group, medians 65 - 122, than in the 20 µg/h group, medians 26 - 54. The subcutaneous injection (theoretical release rate 47.6 µg/h) produced higher concentrations than observed after 40 µg/h transdermal patch dosing. The median fetal/maternal concentration -ratios in different dosing groups ranged between 0.21 and 0.54 in plasma, and between 0.38 and 1.3 in CNS tissues, respectively, with the highest ratios observed in the spinal cord. Buprenorphine concentrations in the cerebrospinal fluid were 8 - 13 % of the concurrent plasma concentration in the ewes and 28 % in the fetuses. Buprenorphine was quantifiable in the newborn lambs' plasma and CNS tissues two days postdelivery. Norbuprenorphine was analyzed from all plasma, cerebrospinal fluid, and CNS tissue samples but was nondetectable or below the LLOQ in most. The current study demonstrates that buprenorphine accumulates into CNS tissues at much higher concentrations than in plasma in pregnant sheep, fetuses, and their newborn lambs even 45 hours after delivery.
Collapse
Key Words
- BUP, Buprenorphine
- CL, Plasma clearance
- CNS, Central nervous system
- CSF, Cerebrospinal fluid
- F/M -ratio, Fetal to maternal concentration ratio
- HPLC, , High-performance liquid chromatography
- L/M -ratio, Lamb to maternal concentration ratio
- LC/MS/MS, Liquid chromatography - tandem mass spectrometry
- LLOQ, Lower limit of quantification
- NBUP, Norbuprenorphine
- brain
- buprenorphine
- pharmacokinetics, pregnancy
- sheep
- tissue
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Sophia Eskola
- School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Hannu Kokki
- School of Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Marko Lehtonen
- School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Juha Räsänen
- Fetal Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Sakari Laaksonen
- Department of Comparative Medicine, Oulu Laboratory Animal Centre, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Hanna-Marja Voipio
- Department of Comparative Medicine, Oulu Laboratory Animal Centre, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Veli-Pekka Ranta
- School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Merja Kokki
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Grecco GG, Huang JY, Muñoz B, Doud EH, Hines CD, Gao Y, Rodriguez B, Mosley AL, Lu HC, Atwood BK. Sex-Dependent Synaptic Remodeling of the Somatosensory Cortex in Mice With Prenatal Methadone Exposure. ADVANCES IN DRUG AND ALCOHOL RESEARCH 2022; 2:10400. [PMID: 37829495 PMCID: PMC10569410 DOI: 10.3389/adar.2022.10400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
Rising opioid use among pregnant women has led to a growing population of neonates exposed to opioids during the prenatal period, but how opioids affect the developing brain remains to be fully understood. Animal models of prenatal opioid exposure have discovered deficits in somatosensory behavioral development that persist into adolescence suggesting opioid exposure induces long lasting neuroadaptations on somatosensory circuitry such as the primary somatosensory cortex (S1). Using a mouse model of prenatal methadone exposure (PME) that displays delays in somatosensory milestone development, we performed an un-biased multi-omics analysis and investigated synaptic functioning in the primary somatosensory cortex (S1), where touch and pain sensory inputs are received in the brain, of early adolescent PME offspring. PME was associated with numerous changes in protein and phosphopeptide abundances that differed considerably between sexes in the S1. Although prominent sex effects were discovered in the multi-omics assessment, functional enrichment analyses revealed the protein and phosphopeptide differences were associated with synapse-related cellular components and synaptic signaling-related biological processes, regardless of sex. Immunohistochemical analysis identified diminished GABAergic synapses in both layer 2/3 and 4 of PME offspring. These immunohistochemical and proteomic alterations were associated with functional consequences as layer 2/3 pyramidal neurons revealed reduced amplitudes and a lengthened decay constant of inhibitory postsynaptic currents. Lastly, in addition to reduced cortical thickness of the S1, cell-type marker analysis revealed reduced microglia density in the upper layer of the S1 that was primarily driven by PME females. Taken together, our studies show the lasting changes on synaptic function and microglia in S1 cortex caused by PME in a sex-dependent manner.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gregory G. Grecco
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, United States
- Medical Scientist Training Program, School of Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Jui Yen Huang
- The Linda and Jack Gill Center for Biomolecular Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, United States
- Program in Neuroscience and Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, United States
| | - Braulio Muñoz
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Emma H. Doud
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Caliel D. Hines
- The Linda and Jack Gill Center for Biomolecular Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, United States
| | - Yong Gao
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Brooke Rodriguez
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Amber L. Mosley
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Hui-Chen Lu
- The Linda and Jack Gill Center for Biomolecular Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, United States
- Program in Neuroscience and Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, United States
| | - Brady K. Atwood
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, United States
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, School of Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Samarghandian S, Ghasemi F, Aramjoo H, Samini F, Aschner M, Roshanravan B, Farkhondeh T. Effects of exposure in utero to buprenorphine on oxidative stress and apoptosis in the hippocampus of rat pups. Toxicol Rep 2022; 9:311-315. [PMID: 35284239 PMCID: PMC8908041 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxrep.2022.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Revised: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The study investigated the effect of buprenorphine (BUP) on oxidative indices and gene expression of apoptotic molecules in the hippocampus of neonates during the fetal stage. BUP (1 or 0.5 mg/kg) was subcutaneously administrated to pregnant rat dams. After parturition, the pups were maintained to the end of breastfeeding period, then hippocampi were assessed for oxidative stress indices [glutathione (GSH), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), total antioxidant capacity (TAC)] and mRNA expression of apoptotic markers (Bax, Bcl2 and caspase 3). Our data indicated that BUP (0.5 mg/kg) administration during gestation significantly increased GSH and TAC concentrations in the hippocampus of pups versus control group (p < 0.05). BUP (0.5 and 1 mg/kg) administration significantly elevated the expression levels of Bcl2 in the hippocampus of neonates compared with controls. BUP injection (0.5 and 1 mg/kg) to pregnant rats markedly reduced the expression levels of caspase 3 in the hippocampus of neonates in BUP 0.5 group (p < 0.01) and BUP 1 group (p < 0.05) versus the controls. Our study indicated that BUP may potentiate antioxidant system and inhibit apoptosis and oxidative stress in the hippocampus of neonates received this drug during the fetal stage. BUP at low doses may potentiate antioxidant system. BUP at low dose may inhibit oxidative stress. BUP at low dose may act as an anti-apoptotic agent.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Saeed Samarghandian
- Noncommunicable Diseases Research Center, Neyshabur University of Medical Sciences, Neyshabur, Iran
| | - Fahimeh Ghasemi
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Medicine, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
| | - Hamed Aramjoo
- Medical Toxicology and Drug Abuse Research Center (MTDRC), Birjand University of Medical Sciences (BUMS), Birjand, Iran
| | - Fariborz Samini
- Neuroscience Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
- Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Michael Aschner
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Forchheimer 209, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Babak Roshanravan
- Student Research Committee, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
| | - Tahereh Farkhondeh
- Medical Toxicology and Drug Abuse Research Center (MTDRC), Birjand University of Medical Sciences (BUMS), Birjand, Iran
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
- Correspondence to: Medical Toxicology and Drug Abuse Research Center (MTDRC), Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran. Faculty of Pharmacy, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Aramjoo H, Yousefizadeh S, Aschner M, Roshanravan B, Farkhondeh T, Samarghandian S. Oxidative Stress Indices Changes in the Hearts of Rat Pups in Response to Maternal Buprenorphine Treatment during Gestation and Lactation. Cardiovasc Toxicol 2022; 22:29-34. [PMID: 34599474 DOI: 10.1007/s12012-021-09686-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to assess the effects of Buprenorphine (BUP) on oxidative parameters in pups born to mothers exposed to the drug during gestation and lactation. Pregnant and lactating rats received BUP, 0.5 or 0.1 mg/kg subcutaneously for 21 and 28 days, respectively. At the end of the study, the pups were anesthetized, and the hearts were dissected out to measure oxidative stress indices, including the levels of Malondialdehyde (MDA), Nitric oxide (NO), Glutathione (GSH), and the activity of Superoxide dismutase (SOD). Our findings indicated that BUP did not alter MDA, NO, GSH levels, nor SOD activity in the cardiac tissue of pups exposed to this drug during the fetal period and through breast milk. We suggest performing additional studies to determine the association between BUP and oxidative modifications in cardiac tissues of pups born to mothers under BUP therapy during gestation and lactation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hamed Aramjoo
- Student Research Committee, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
| | - Shahnaz Yousefizadeh
- Department of Laboratory and Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Para-Veterinary, Ilam University, Ilam, Iran
| | - Michael Aschner
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Forchheimer 209, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Babak Roshanravan
- Student Research Committee, Birjand University of Medical Sciences (BUMS), Birjand, Iran
| | - Tahereh Farkhondeh
- Cardiovascular Diseases Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran.
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran.
| | - Saeed Samarghandian
- Noncommunicable Diseases Research Center, Neyshabur University of Medical Sciences, Neyshabur, Iran.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Boggess T, Williamson JC, Niebergall EB, Sexton H, Mazur A, Egleton RD, Grover LM, Risher WC. Alterations in Excitatory and Inhibitory Synaptic Development Within the Mesolimbic Dopamine Pathway in a Mouse Model of Prenatal Drug Exposure. Front Pediatr 2021; 9:794544. [PMID: 34966707 PMCID: PMC8710665 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2021.794544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The rise in rates of opioid abuse in recent years in the United States has led to a dramatic increase in the incidence of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). Despite improved understanding of NAS and its acute symptoms, there remains a paucity of information regarding the long-term effects of prenatal exposure to drugs of abuse on neurological development. The primary goal of this study was to investigate the effects of prenatal drug exposure on synaptic connectivity within brain regions associated with the mesolimbic dopamine pathway, the primary reward pathway associated with drug abuse and addiction, in a mouse model. Our secondary goal was to examine the role of the Ca+2 channel subunit α2δ-1, known to be involved in key developmental synaptogenic pathways, in mediating these effects. Pregnant mouse dams were treated orally with either the opioid drug buprenorphine (commonly used in medication-assisted treatment for substance use patients), gabapentin (neuropathic pain drug that binds to α2δ-1 and has been increasingly co-abused with opioids), a combination of both drugs, or vehicle daily from gestational day 6 until postnatal day 11. Confocal fluorescence immunohistochemistry (IHC) imaging of the brains of the resulting wild-type (WT) pups at postnatal day 21 revealed a number of significant alterations in excitatory and inhibitory synaptic populations within the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), nucleus accumbens (NAC), and medial prefrontal cortex (PFC), particularly in the buprenorphine or combinatorial buprenorphine/gabapentin groups. Furthermore, we observed several drug- and region-specific differences in synaptic connectivity between WT and α2δ-1 haploinsufficient mice, indicating that critical α2δ-1-associated synaptogenic pathways are disrupted with early life drug exposure.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - W. Christopher Risher
- Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Marshall University, Huntington, WV, United States
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Wallin CM, Bowen SE, Brummelte S. Opioid use during pregnancy can impair maternal behavior and the Maternal Brain Network: A literature review. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2021; 86:106976. [PMID: 33812002 DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2021.106976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Revised: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) is a global epidemic also affecting women of reproductive age. A standard form of pharmacological treatment for OUD is Opioid Maintenance Therapy (OMT) and buprenorphine has emerged as the preferred treatment for pregnant women with OUD relative to methadone. However, the consequences of BUP exposure on the developing Maternal Brain Network and mother-infant dyad are not well understood. The maternal-infant bond is dependent on the Maternal Brain Network, which is responsible for the dynamic transition from a "nulliparous brain" to a "maternal brain". The Maternal Brain Network consists of regions implicated in maternal care (e.g., medial preoptic area, nucleus accumbens, ventral pallidum, ventral tegmentum area) and maternal defense (e.g., periaqueductal gray). The endogenous opioid system modulates many of the neurochemical changes in these areas during the transition to motherhood. Thus, it is not surprising that exogenous opioid exposure during pregnancy can be disruptive to the Maternal Brain Network. Though less drastic than misused opioids, OMTs may not be without risk of disrupting the neural and molecular structures of the Maternal Brain Network. This review describes the Maternal Brain Network as a framework for understanding how pharmacological differences in exogenous opioid exposure can disrupt the onset and maintenance of the maternal brain and summarizes opioid and OMT (in particular buprenorphine) use in the context of pregnancy and maternal behavior. This review also highlights future directions for evaluating exogenous opioid effects on the Maternal Brain Network in the hopes of raising awareness for the impact of the opioid crisis not only on exposed infants, but also on mothers and subsequent mother-infant bonds.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chela M Wallin
- Department of Psychology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA.
| | - Scott E Bowen
- Department of Psychology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA.
| | - Susanne Brummelte
- Department of Psychology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Grecco GG, Mork BE, Huang JY, Metzger CE, Haggerty DL, Reeves KC, Gao Y, Hoffman H, Katner SN, Masters AR, Morris CW, Newell EA, Engleman EA, Baucum AJ, Kim J, Yamamoto BK, Allen MR, Wu YC, Lu HC, Sheets PL, Atwood BK. Prenatal methadone exposure disrupts behavioral development and alters motor neuron intrinsic properties and local circuitry. eLife 2021; 10:66230. [PMID: 33724184 PMCID: PMC7993998 DOI: 10.7554/elife.66230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the rising prevalence of methadone treatment in pregnant women with opioid use disorder, the effects of methadone on neurobehavioral development remain unclear. We developed a translational mouse model of prenatal methadone exposure (PME) that resembles the typical pattern of opioid use by pregnant women who first use oxycodone then switch to methadone maintenance pharmacotherapy, and subsequently become pregnant while maintained on methadone. We investigated the effects of PME on physical development, sensorimotor behavior, and motor neuron properties using a multidisciplinary approach of physical, biochemical, and behavioral assessments along with brain slice electrophysiology and in vivo magnetic resonance imaging. Methadone accumulated in the placenta and fetal brain, but methadone levels in offspring dropped rapidly at birth which was associated with symptoms and behaviors consistent with neonatal opioid withdrawal. PME produced substantial impairments in offspring physical growth, activity in an open field, and sensorimotor milestone acquisition. Furthermore, these behavioral alterations were associated with reduced neuronal density in the motor cortex and a disruption in motor neuron intrinsic properties and local circuit connectivity. The present study adds to the limited body of work examining PME by providing a comprehensive, translationally relevant characterization of how PME disrupts offspring physical and neurobehavioral development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gregory G Grecco
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, United States.,Indiana University School of Medicine, Medical Scientist Training Program, Indianapolis, United States
| | - Briana E Mork
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, United States.,Program in Medical Neuroscience, Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, United States
| | - Jui-Yen Huang
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, United States.,The Linda and Jack Gill Center for Biomolecular Sciences, Department of Psychological and Brain Science, Program in Neuroscience, Indiana University, Bloomington, United States
| | - Corinne E Metzger
- Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology & Physiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, United States
| | - David L Haggerty
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, United States
| | - Kaitlin C Reeves
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, United States
| | - Yong Gao
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, United States
| | - Hunter Hoffman
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, United States
| | - Simon N Katner
- Deparment of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, United States
| | - Andrea R Masters
- Clinical Pharmacology Analytical Core-Indiana University Simon Cancer Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, United States
| | - Cameron W Morris
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, United States.,Department of Biology, Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis, United States
| | - Erin A Newell
- Deparment of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, United States
| | - Eric A Engleman
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, United States
| | - Anthony J Baucum
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, United States.,Department of Biology, Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis, United States.,Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, United States
| | - Jiuen Kim
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, United States.,Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, United States
| | - Bryan K Yamamoto
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, United States.,Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, United States
| | - Matthew R Allen
- Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology & Physiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, United States.,Indiana Center for Musculoskeletal Health, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, United States
| | - Yu-Chien Wu
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, United States.,Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, United States
| | - Hui-Chen Lu
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, United States.,Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, United States
| | - Patrick L Sheets
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, United States.,Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, United States
| | - Brady K Atwood
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, United States.,Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, United States
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Prenatal Opioid Exposure Enhances Responsiveness to Future Drug Reward and Alters Sensitivity to Pain: A Review of Preclinical Models and Contributing Mechanisms. eNeuro 2020; 7:ENEURO.0393-20.2020. [PMID: 33060181 PMCID: PMC7768284 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0393-20.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Revised: 10/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The opioid crisis has resulted in an unprecedented number of neonates born with prenatal opioid exposure (POE); however, the long-term effects of POE on offspring behavior and neurodevelopment remain relatively unknown. The advantages and disadvantages of the various preclinical POE models developed over the last several decades are discussed in the context of clinical and translational relevance. Although considerable and important variability exists among preclinical models of POE, the examination of these preclinical models has revealed that opioid exposure during the prenatal period contributes to maladaptive behavioral development as offspring mature including an altered responsiveness to rewarding drugs and increased pain response. The present review summarizes key findings demonstrating the impact of POE on offspring drug self-administration (SA), drug consumption, the reinforcing properties of drugs, drug tolerance, and other reward-related behaviors such as hypersensitivity to pain. Potential underlying molecular mechanisms which may contribute to this enhanced addictive phenotype in POE offspring are further discussed with special attention given to key brain regions associated with reward including the striatum, prefrontal cortex (PFC), ventral tegmental area (VTA), hippocampus, and amygdala. Improvements in preclinical models and further areas of study are also identified which may advance the translational value of findings and help address the growing problem of POE in clinical populations.
Collapse
|
18
|
Kongstorp M, Bogen IL, Steinsland S, Nerem E, Salih TW, Stiris T, Andersen JM. Prenatal exposure to methadone or buprenorphine alters µ-opioid receptor binding and downstream signaling in the rat brain. Int J Dev Neurosci 2020; 80:443-453. [PMID: 32484968 DOI: 10.1002/jdn.10043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2020] [Revised: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
There is a growing concern related to the use of opioid maintenance treatment during pregnancy. Studies in both humans and animals have reported reduced cognitive functioning in offspring prenatally exposed to methadone or buprenorphine; however, little is known about the neurobiological mechanisms underlying these impairments. To reveal possible neurobiological effects of such in utero exposure, we examined brain tissue from methadone- and buprenorphine-exposed rat offspring previously shown to display impaired learning and memory. We studied µ-opioid receptor (MOR) and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) binding in the rat offspring cerebrum during development and in the hippocampus at young adulthood. Moreover, we examined activation of the Ca2+ /calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) and the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), which are central in the downstream signaling of these receptors. The methadone- and buprenorphine-exposed rat pups displayed reduced MOR binding up to two weeks after birth, whereas the NMDAR binding was unaffected. Prenatal exposure to methadone or buprenorphine also resulted in decreased activation of CaMKII and/or ERK during development, while young adult offspring displayed increased hippocampal ERK activation. In conclusion, our findings suggest that prenatal exposure to exogenous opioids, such as methadone or buprenorphine, may disturb the endogenous opioid system during development, with long-term effects on proteins important for cognitive functioning.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mette Kongstorp
- Department of Forensic Sciences, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Inger Lise Bogen
- Department of Forensic Sciences, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Synne Steinsland
- Department of Forensic Sciences, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Elisabeth Nerem
- Department of Forensic Sciences, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Tom Stiris
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Neonatal Intensive Care, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Jannike Mørch Andersen
- Department of Forensic Sciences, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Prenatal exposure to methadone or buprenorphine impairs cognitive performance in young adult rats. Drug Alcohol Depend 2020; 212:108008. [PMID: 32402939 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2020.108008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2020] [Revised: 03/20/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Concerns have been raised about the use of opioid maintenance treatment (OMT) during pregnancy and negative effects for the offspring. While neonatal outcomes and short-term effects are relatively well described, studies examining long-term effects in adolescents and adults are absent. The aim of the present study was to examine effects on learning and memory in young adult rats prenatally exposed to methadone or buprenorphine. METHODS Female rats were implanted with a 28-day osmotic minipump delivering methadone (10 mg/kg/day), buprenorphine (1 mg/kg/day) or vehicle 5 days prior to mating. To examine possible effects on cognitive functioning, young adult offspring were included in three different behavioral tests that examine recognition memory, nonspatial, and spatial learning and memory. In addition, offspring growth and maternal behavior after birh were investigated. RESULTS Prenatal exposure to methadone or buprenorphine caused impaired recognition memory and nonspatial reference learning and memory in young adult rats compared with the vehicle-treated group. Methadone-exposed offspring, but not the buprenorphine-exposed, also showed reduced long-term spatial memory. We did not observe any changes in maternal behavior or offspring growth after prenatal exposure to methadone or buprenorphine, suggesting that the impaired cognitive functioning is due to the opioid exposure rather than reduced maternal caregiving. CONCLUSION The present findings of long-term cognitive impairments in methadone- and buprenorphine-exposed offspring points to a negative impact of OMT on neurobiological development.
Collapse
|