2001. Effect of perinatal buprenorphine exposure on development in the rat

The developmental effects of exposure to various doses of buprenorphine, methadone, or water during the perinatal pe-riod were studied in the rat. Rats were exposed to buprenor-phine (0.3, 1.0, or 3.0 mg/kg/day), methadone (9 mg/kg/day), and/or water prenatally, postnatally, or both pre- and postna-tally, via maternally implanted osmotic minipumps. Fetal and maternal mortality and morbidity were assessed, as well as the acquisition of several developmental milestones, pup weight gain, precipitated withdrawal, and the antinociceptive effect of morphine. Although perinatal exposure to buprenorphine failed to produce severe maternal and fetal or neonatal mortality, it was associated with a significant amount of perinatal mortality and perturbations of pup development. Pups developed phys-ical dependence to both drugs, as evidenced by the ability o