Effects of prenatal opioid exposure on synaptic adaptations and behaviors across development

• Published in: Neuropharmacology 2023-01, Vol.222, p.109312-109312, Article 109312
• Main Authors: Simmons, Sarah C., Grecco, Greg G., Atwood, Brady K., Nugent, Fereshteh S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adverse Childhood Experiences; Analgesics, Opioid - adverse effects; Behavior, Addictive; Child; Development; Early life stress; ELS; Female; Humans; Opioid Epidemic; Opioid-Related Disorders; POE; Pregnancy; Prenatal opioid exposure; Synaptic plasticity
• ISSN: 0028-3908; 1873-7064
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2022.109312

In this review, we focus on prenatal opioid exposure (POE) given the significant concern for the mental health outcomes of children with parents affected by opioid use disorder (OUD) in the view of the current opioid crisis. We highlight some of the less explored interactions between developmental age and sex on synaptic plasticity and associated behavioral outcomes in preclinical POE research. We begin with an overview of the rich literature on hippocampal related behaviors and plasticity across POE exposure paradigms. We then discuss recent work on reward circuit dysregulation following POE. Additional risk factors such as early life stress (ELS) could further influence synaptic and behavioral outcomes of POE. Therefore, we include an overview on the use of preclinical ELS models where ELS exposure during key critical developmental periods confers considerable vulnerability to addiction and stress psychopathology. Here, we hope to highlight the similarity between POE and ELS on development and maintenance of opioid-induced plasticity and altered opioid-related behaviors where similar enduring plasticity in reward circuits may occur. We conclude the review with some of the limitations that should be considered in future investigations. This article is part of the Special Issue on ‘Opioid-induced addiction’. •Comprehensive review of POE and its interaction with age and sex on synaptic plasticity and associated behavioral outcomes.•Highlight of the additional risk factors such as ELS that could further influence synaptic and behavioral outcomes of POE.•Discussion of effects of ELS on opioid-induced plasticity in reward circuits and altered opioid-related behaviors.•Highlight of some of the outstanding issues to consider in future investigations of POE.