Ramazani M, Tekyeh E, Zardooz H, Bahadoran H, Sahraei H. Morphine delays fovea development in the eyes of Wistar rat embryos possible involvement of corticosterone. Physiol Pharmacol 2009; 13 (3) :271-278
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http://ppj.phypha.ir/article-1-582-en.html
Abstract: (17509 Views)
Abstract*
Introduction: Visual system have been considered as among important sensory system in animals’ life span and
their survival is closely related to normal visual system functioning. Since in previous studies it have been revealed that
morphine consumption during pregnancy could lead to defect and delay in nervous system development in the embryos,
in the present study, changes induced by morphine in Fovea area in the ayes of embryos whom their mothers received
oral morphine during pregnancy period were studied.
Methods: Female Wistar rats (250-300 g) were used in this study. 24 hours after mating with male rats, the females
were separated and their vaginal smear was obtained for sperm detection. This day was considered as embryonic day
zero (E0). The females then were divided randomly into experimental or control group .Controls received tap water
where as experiments received morphine (0.05 mg/ml) in their waters. On the E13 blood samples were collected from
the retro-orbital sinus of all animals for plasma corticosterone detection. On the E17, the animals were killed by
chloroform over dose and their embryos were taken out surgically. The embryos were fixed in formalin 10% for 30
days. Their length and weight were determined by digital scale and kalper respectively. At this time, the embryos head
was removed for tissue processing, cutting and Hematoxylin -Eosin (H&E) staining. The samples were evaluated using
light microscope and MOTIC soft ware.
Results: Our data indicated that plasma corticosterone level was dramatically increased in experimental group.
Interestingly, neither weight nor the length of the embryos did not statistically differ in experimental compare with
controls. In addition, the Fovea area was thinner in experimental group and there was space between cells.
Conclusion: This results indicated that oral morphine consumption during pregnancy may induces defect or delay in
Fovea development and at least a part of this defect may be due to an increase in plasma corticosterone level in
experimental group.
Keywords: Visual System, Fovea, Morphine, Corticosterone, Rat.
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