Experiencing neonatal maternal separation increased the seizure threshold in adult male mice: Involvement of the opioid system.
Experiencing early-life stress has been considered as a potent risk factor for the development of many of brain disorders, including seizures. Intervening mechanisms through which neonatal maternal separation (MS) alters the seizure susceptibility in adulthood have not been well studied. In the current study, by applying 180 min of MS stress (PND 2-14), we determined the seizure susceptibility and considered the role of the opioid system. Maternal separation increased the seizure threshold, and administration of anticonvulsant/proconvulsant doses of morphine (1 and 30 mg/kg, respectively) reversed the impact of MS. Using tail flick and hot plate tests, we exposed animals to 30 min Restraint stress (RS) and found that MS decreased the pain threshold, suggesting the hyporesponsiveness of the opioid system. These results supported the abnormal seizure activity observed in the MS mice and suggested that abnormalities in the opioid system following MS alter seizure susceptibility in later life.
['Amini-Khoei|Hossein|H|', 'Amiri|Shayan|S|', 'Shirzadian|Armin|A|', 'Haj-Mirzaian|Arya|A|', 'Alijanpour|Sakineh|S|', 'Rahimi-Balaei|Maryam|M|', 'Mohammadi-Asl|Ali|A|', 'Hassanipour|Mahsa|M|', 'Mehr|Shahram Ejtemaie|SE|', 'Dehpour|Ahmad Reza|AR|']
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid D000818:Animals D000927:Anticonvulsants D001010:Anxiety, Separation D004723:Endorphins D005260:Female D008297:Male D008426:Maternal Deprivation D051379:Mice D009020:Morphine D010147:Pain Measurement D011247:Pregnancy D012149:Restraint, Physical D012640:Seizures D013315:Stress, Psychological
Maternal separation Opioid system Stress Seizure susceptibility PTZ