Oxycodone Decreases Dendritic Complexity in Female but not Male Rat Striatal Neurons In Vitro.

The use of oxycodone in the past two decades has dramatically risen, yet the amount of research regarding how it impacts neuronal health is lacking. As prescription use and misuse in women of reproductive age increases there has been a corresponding increase in the number of infants who have been exposed to oxycodone in utero. Given the critical role of the striatum in motor control and reward regulation, the aim of the current study was to examine the effects of oxycodone on developing rat striatal neurons.