Perigestational Opioid Exposure Alters Alcohol-Driven Reward Behaviors in Adolescent Rats.

Every fifteen minutes, a baby is born in the U.S. experiencing neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS).

Increased LPS-Induced Fever and Sickness Behavior in Adult Male and Female Rats Perinatally Exposed to Morphine.

As a result of the current opioid crisis, the rate of children born exposed to opioids has skyrocketed. Later in life, these children have an increased risk for hospitalization and infection, raising concerns about potential immunocompromise, as is common with chronic opioid use. Opioids can act directly on immune cells or indirectly via the central nervous system to decrease immune system activity, leading to increased susceptibility, morbidity, and mortality to infection.

Perinatal opioid exposure leads to decreased social play in adolescent male and female rats: Potential role of oxytocin signaling in brain regions associated with social reward.

Over the last two decades, the number of infants exposed to opioids in utero has quadrupled in the United States, with some states reporting rates as high as 55 infants per 1000 births. Clinical studies report that children previously exposed to opioids during gestation show significant deficits in social behavior, including an inability to form friendships or other social relationships. To date, the neural mechanisms whereby developmental opioid exposure disrupts social behavior remain unknown.

Perinatal Opioid Exposure Leads to Decreased Social Play in Adolescent Male and Female Rats: Potential Role of Oxytocin Signaling in Brain Regions Associated with Social Reward.

Over the last two decades, the number of infants exposed to opioids has quadrupled in the United States, with some states reporting rates as high as 55 infants per 1000 births. Clinical studies report that children previously exposed to opioids during gestation show significant deficits in social behavior, including an inability to form friendships or other social relationships. To date, the neural mechanisms whereby developmental opioid exposure disrupts social behavior remain unknown.

Housing Environment Affects Pubertal Onset, Anxiety-like Behavior, and Object Interaction in Male and Female Long Evans Rats.

Rodents used for research can be humanely housed in a variety of ways. As such, a vast number of different housing environments are used, but are often not described in research publications. However, many elements of housing environments, including bedding, diet, water bottles, and cage material, can expose rodents to natural and synthetic compounds that can have lasting effects on the body, brain, and behavior.