Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

Increased neonatal mortality in offspring of male rats treated with methadone or morphine before mating

Nature volume 253, pages 202–203 (1975)Cite this article

Abstract

METHADONE ((±)-4, 4-diphenyl-6-dimethylamino-3-heptanone hydrochloride) is a potent (addictive) analgesic with pharmacological effects which are qualitatively similar to those of morphine, although it is far more effective than morphine when given orally. Its ability to diminish the severity of the abstinence syndrome resulting from heroin withdrawal led to the introduction of methadone in the chemotherapy of narcotic addiction1–3. Little is known, however, about its long term toxicity effects. We report that treatment of male rats with either (±)-methadone HCl (METH) or morphine sulphate (MS), given orally, for 24 h before mating to untreated females increases the neonatal (21-d) mortality of their offspring.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Get just this article for as long as you need it

$39.95

Learn more

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

References

  1. Isbell, H., and Vogel, V. H., Am. J. Psychiat., 105, 909 (1949).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Dole, V. P., and Nyswander, M., J. Am. med. Ass., 193, 646–650 (1965).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Jaffe, J. H., Proc. 5th natn. Conf. Meth. Treatment, 1414–1421 (1973).

  4. Smith, D. J., Heseltine, G. F. D., and Corson, J. A., Life Sci., 10, 1233–1242 (1971).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Smith, D. J., Joffe, J. M., and Heseltine, G. F. D., Physiology and Behavior (in the press).

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Pharmacology and Psychology, The University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, 05401

    DURWOOD J. SMITH & JUSTIN M. JOFFE

Authors
  1. DURWOOD J. SMITH
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. JUSTIN M. JOFFE
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

SMITH, D., JOFFE, J. Increased neonatal mortality in offspring of male rats treated with methadone or morphine before mating. Nature 253, 202–203 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1038/253202a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/253202a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing