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Role of noradrenergic hyperactivity in neonatal opiate abstinence.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Little, PJ; Price, RR; Hinton, RK; Kuhn, CM
Published in: Drug Alcohol Depend
May 1996

Despite the existence of a well-defined abstinence syndrome in offspring of opiate-dependent mothers, the mechanisms involved in neonatal abstinence remain unclear. The goal of the present study was to determine the contribution of noradrenergic neurons in the opiate abstinence syndrome in neonatal rats (10 days old). First, the ability of the alpha 2-adrenergic agonist, clonidine to attenuate the symptoms of neonatal opiate abstinence precipitated by naloxone was determined. Secondly, the activity of noradrenergic neurons was determined by measuring postmortem levels of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) in the hypothalamus, hippocampus and cortex in opiate-abstinent pups. Neonatal opiate abstinence was characterized by an increased incidence of wall climbing, tremors and mouthing. Acute treatment with morphine and naloxone in chronic saline-treated pups also produced the tremor, albeit less severe than in pups treated chronically with morphine. Clonidine (0.2 mg/kg) attenuated the expression of tremor and mouthing in neonates, but increased wall climbing. Clonidine elicited wall climbing in opiate-naive neonates. Treatment with morphine followed by naltrexone increased MHPG levels in all of the brain areas examined, irrespective of the chronic treatment, but naltrexone treatment elicited a larger increase in MHPG levels in pups treated chronically with morphine. Acute morphine treatment increased MHPG levels only in the hypothalamus. The results of the present study provide behavioral and neurochemical data supporting the hypothesis that noradrenergic hyperactivity plays a role in neonatal opiate abstinence.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Drug Alcohol Depend

DOI

ISSN

0376-8716

Publication Date

May 1996

Volume

41

Issue

1

Start / End Page

47 / 54

Location

Ireland

Related Subject Headings

  • Substance Abuse
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Rats
  • Opioid-Related Disorders
  • Norepinephrine
  • Neurologic Examination
  • Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
  • Narcotics
  • Narcotic Antagonists
  • Naloxone
 

Citation

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Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
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Little, P. J., Price, R. R., Hinton, R. K., & Kuhn, C. M. (1996). Role of noradrenergic hyperactivity in neonatal opiate abstinence. Drug Alcohol Depend, 41(1), 47–54. https://doi.org/10.1016/0376-8716(96)01236-7
Little, P. J., R. R. Price, R. K. Hinton, and C. M. Kuhn. “Role of noradrenergic hyperactivity in neonatal opiate abstinence.Drug Alcohol Depend 41, no. 1 (May 1996): 47–54. https://doi.org/10.1016/0376-8716(96)01236-7.
Little PJ, Price RR, Hinton RK, Kuhn CM. Role of noradrenergic hyperactivity in neonatal opiate abstinence. Drug Alcohol Depend. 1996 May;41(1):47–54.
Little, P. J., et al. “Role of noradrenergic hyperactivity in neonatal opiate abstinence.Drug Alcohol Depend, vol. 41, no. 1, May 1996, pp. 47–54. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/0376-8716(96)01236-7.
Little PJ, Price RR, Hinton RK, Kuhn CM. Role of noradrenergic hyperactivity in neonatal opiate abstinence. Drug Alcohol Depend. 1996 May;41(1):47–54.
Journal cover image

Published In

Drug Alcohol Depend

DOI

ISSN

0376-8716

Publication Date

May 1996

Volume

41

Issue

1

Start / End Page

47 / 54

Location

Ireland

Related Subject Headings

  • Substance Abuse
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Rats
  • Opioid-Related Disorders
  • Norepinephrine
  • Neurologic Examination
  • Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
  • Narcotics
  • Narcotic Antagonists
  • Naloxone