Perinatal Buprenorphine Effects on Offspring Growth, Opioid Withdrawal, and Brain Morphology in Rats
Degree Name
MS (Master of Science)
Program
Biology
Date of Award
5-2024
Committee Chair or Co-Chairs
Brooke Schmeichel
Committee Members
Melissa Whitaker, Martin Olsen
Abstract
Opioid use disorder (OUD) impacts 5.6 million people in the US. Buprenorphine (BUP) is a commonly prescribed opioid medication used to treat OUD, including in pregnant women. However, opioid use during pregnancy is associated with poorer infant outcomes including reduced fetal growth, neurodevelopmental deficits, and neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS). Recent clinical data suggests that providing mothers with a lower dose of BUP may result in fewer negative outcomes in infants. Here, a preclinical rodent model of low-dose perinatal BUP exposure was used to study offspring health outcomes in the neonate, juvenile, and adolescent offspring. Dams were given clinically relevant doses of BUP prior to and throughout gestation, and continuing through weaning to mimic human doses and exposure. Although the lowest BUP dose still elicited signs of NOWS in offspring, there were fewer negative effects on overall brain morphology across the early lifespan than that of the higher BUP dose compared to controls.
Document Type
Thesis - unrestricted
Recommended Citation
Barnes, Parker, "Perinatal Buprenorphine Effects on Offspring Growth, Opioid Withdrawal, and Brain Morphology in Rats" (2024). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 4395. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/4395
Copyright
Copyright by the authors.
Included in
Animals Commons, Behavioral Neurobiology Commons, Developmental Neuroscience Commons, Maternal and Child Health Commons, Medical Neurobiology Commons, Neurosciences Commons, Obstetrics and Gynecology Commons