Bibliographic Citation
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| Title | Effects of naltrexone in postnatal rats on the recovery of disturbed brain and lymphatic tissues after X-irradiation or ethylnitrosourea treatment in utero |
| Creator/Author | Schmahl, W.G. ; Plendl, J. ; Reinoehl-Kompa, S. |
| Publication Date | 1987 Jan 01 |
| OSTI Identifier | OSTI ID: 6515600 |
| Other Number(s) | Journal ID: CODEN: RCOCB |
| Resource Type | Journal Article |
| Resource Relation | Journal Name: Res. Commun. Chem. Pathol. Pharmacol.; (United States); Journal Volume: 1 |
| Research Org | Gesellschaft fuer Strahlen- und Umweltforschung, m.b.H. Muenchen, Abteilung Nuklearbiologie, Neuherberg, West Germany |
| Subject | 63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.; NARCOTICS; BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS; RADIOSENSITIVITY EFFECTS; NITROSOUREAS; TOXICITY; AGING; BRAIN; PREGNANCY; PRENATAL EXPOSURE; RATS; SPLEEN; SUBCUTANEOUS INJECTION; THYMUS; X RADIATION; ANIMALS; BODY; CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM; CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM DEPRESSANTS; DRUGS; ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION; INJECTION; INTAKE; IONIZING RADIATIONS; LYMPHATIC SYSTEM; MAMMALS; NERVOUS SYSTEM; NITROSO COMPOUNDS; ORGANIC COMPOUNDS; ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS; ORGANS; RADIATIONS; RODENTS; VERTEBRATES |
| Description/Abstract | The role of endogenous opioid systems in preweaning development after intrauterine exposure to X-irradiation or ethylnitrosourea (ENU) was explored in rats using naltrexone, a potent antagonist of beta-endorphin. After daily s.c. injections of 50 mg/kg naltrexone only the prenatally untreated controls had body weights increased by 11% from control level on day 28 (weaning). In the X-irradiated as well as the ENU-treated pups no significant effects of naltrexone on body weight gain were observed. However, brain weight increased in all animals under the influence of naltrexone, irrespective of prenatal treatment or the severity of brain lesions: 9.5% above control values in untreated offspring and 14% after X-irradiation (1 Gy) on gestation day 14. The brain weight of ENU-treated rats (50 mg/kg on gest. day 14) was 13% higher after postnatal naltrexone application than that of their postnatally untreated counterparts. ENU (80 mg/kg) effects on the brain when given on gestation day 18 were ameliorated to 9.2% by naltrexone in the weaning period. Naltrexone significantly increased the thymus weight in controls. Prenatally treated animals also showed an increased thymus weight at weaning, presumably due to compensatory growth. In these cases naltrexone revealed a suppressive effect on the thymus, whereas spleen weight was apparently not influenced by naltrexone treatment. These results provide compelling evidence that endogenous opioid systems play a crucial role not only in normal development, but also in reparative growth events of the brain after prenatal injuries. The thymus, predominantly containing T-lymphocytes, seems to represent another sensitive system which is regulated under the influence of opioids. |
| Country of Publication | United States |
| Language | English |
| Format | Medium: X; Size: Pages: 89-99 |
| System Entry Date | 2008 Feb 08 |
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Last Updated: 11/19/2009