Maternal exposure to buprenorphine, but not methadone, during pregnancy reduces social play behavior across two generations of offspring.

ABSTRACT:

Rationale

The prevalence of newborns exposed to medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), such as methadone or buprenorphine, during pregnancy is increasing. The opioid system plays a crucial role in regulating and shaping social behavior, and children prenatally exposed to opioids face an increased risk of developing behavioral problems. However, the impact of prenatal exposure to MOUD on offspring's social behavior during adolescence and adulthood, as well as potential intergenerational effects, remains largely unexplored.

Objectives

Our study employed a translationally relevant animal model to investigate how maternal (F0) exposure to MOUD during pregnancy affects social behavior in young and adult rats across the first (F1) and second (F2) generation of offspring.

M

SUBMITTER: Nyberg H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11861248 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature