The Effect of Parental Morphine Addiction on Rat's Reproduction Rate and Pituitary - Gonadal Axis Hormone Profile of Their Adult Offspring

Opiates such as morphine administration, decrease serum level of pituitary–gonadal axis hormones in both sexes. On the other hand, morphine can be transferred from the mother the fetus and neonate via the placenta and milk. Thus maternal exposure to morphine during pregnancy and weaning may affect serum level of pituitary–gonadal axis hormones in off springs. Focus on the effect of the addiction of the pregnant mother on the health of the fetus and neonate has led to under recognition of possible male mediated effects. In this study, the effect of morphine addiction of the parents on the reproduction rate and pituitary gonadal axis hormone profile have been investigated. Forty female and 16 male albino Wistar rats (120-140 days old) were enrolled into the study. Animals were addicted by oral administration of incremental dose of morphine in drinking water for 21 days. Then male rats were placed with females in 6 groups: 1- male addict =test, 2-female addict=test 2, 3- male and female addict = test 3, and sham 1, sham2 and the control group. Morphine administration was also continued during pregnancy and weaning as well. At the time of puberty, blood samples were collected from the off springs and pituitary–gonadal axis hormones were measured. Morphine was in dissolved 3% sucrose and added into the drinking water of groups 1-3. The same amount of sucrose was added into the drinking water of the two sham groups. In female offspring of group1 (test 1) LH (0.086±0.04Iu/L) and 17β estradiol (93.2±5.92ng/L) were significantly reduced compared to the control values of 0.19±0.03 and 182.4±11.21 respectively. But no pituitary–gonodal axis hormones alteration occurred in male offspring of this group and offspring of group 2. There were no pregnancies in group 3. The results suggest that the female maternal morphine addiction disturb reproduction processes more them does male addiction.