Ontogenetic Oxycodone Exposure Affects Early Life Communicative Behaviors, Sensorimotor Reflexes, and Weight Trajectory in Mice

• DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.615798
• Publication Date: 2021-02-22T04:38:24Z
• Authors: Elena Minakova; Simona Sarafinovska; Marwa O. Mikati; Kia M. Barclay; Katherine B. McCu...; Joseph D. Dougherty; Ream Al-Hasani; Susan E. Maloney
• Keywords: 0301 basic medicine; post-natal; behavior; neonatal abstinence syndrome; Neurosciences. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry; oxycodone; in utero; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; opioid; RC321-571; Neuroscience

Nationwide, opioid misuse among pregnant women has risen four-fold from 1999 to 2014, with commensurate increase in neonates hospitalized for neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). NAS occurs when a fetus exposed opioids utero goes into rapid withdrawal after birth. treatment via continued post-natal exposure been suggested worsen neurodevelopmental outcomes. We developed novel model characterize the impact of and prolonged oxycodone (Oxy) on early behavior development. Via subcutaneous pump implanted before breeding, C57BL/6J dams were infused Oxy at 10 mg/kg/day conception through pup-weaning. At birth, oxy-exposed pups either cross-fostered (paired non-Oxy dams) (in Oxy) or reared by their biological still receiving (prolonged Oxy). Offspring vehicle-exposed served as Veh) biologically controls. In resulted sex-dependent weight reductions altered spectrotemporal features isolation-induced ultrasonic vocalization (USV). Meanwhile, exhibited reduced sex-differential delays righting reflex. Specifically, female offspring increased latency righting. Prolonged also showed decreases number USV calls changes features. Overall, ontogenetic was associated impaired attainment gross sensorimotor milestones, well alterations communication affective behaviors, indicating need therapeutic interventions. The here will enable studies physiology opioid-mediated mechanisms underlying these deficits.