# Effects of maternal morphine consumption on odontogenesis in rats: A histomorphometric study

## TL;DR

This study shows that maternal morphine use in rats harms tooth development in offspring, affecting enamel and dentin formation.

## Contribution

The study provides new evidence on the specific effects of maternal morphine consumption on odontogenesis in rat embryos and infants.

## Key findings

- Control group rats had significantly thicker enamel organs and dental papilla compared to the morphine-exposed group.
- Morphine-exposed rats showed reduced maximum buccolingual width of tooth buds compared to controls.
- Enamel and dentin thickness was significantly lower in morphine-exposed rats across multiple developmental stages.

## Abstract

Extensive research has established the adverse impact of morphine sulfate addiction on the central nervous system. Additionally, studies have shown that the consumption of morphine during pregnancy can impair normal fetal development. This study examined the influence of morphine sulfate on tooth development in rats.

Thirty female Wistar rats were randomly assigned to two groups. The experimental group was given morphine sulfate at a final dose of 0.4 mg/mL, while the control group received only water. Dependence on morphine was verified through the use of naloxone. We examined the effect of morphine sulfate on the development of maxillary first molars in rat embryos on day 19 of gestation, as well as on days 1, 4, 7, and 10 after birth. Two or three rats were separated from each mother and anesthetized using ketamine at 2 mg/kg. Thin sections were prepared from paraffin blocks of the tissue and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Statistical analyses were conducted with SPSS 20 using ANOVA and post hoc Tukey tests (P<0.05).

Research findings indicated that, on the first day after birth, the enamel organ had a significantly greater thickness in the control group (P=0.001). Additionally, in the 19-day-old fetus and one-day-old baby groups, the control group had a significantly higher dental papilla thickness than the experimental group (P=0.001). Furthermore, the maximum buccolingual width of tooth buds in the control group was significantly greater than that of the experimental group (P=0.001). Lastly, the enamel and dentin were significantly thicker in the control group than in the experimental group in the 1-, 4-, 7-, and 10-day-old infant groups (P=0.001).

These results suggest that morphine sulfate interfered with the development of the tooth bud and reduced the secretion of enamel and dentin matrix.