Abstract
The effects of perinatal or neonatal morphine exposure on the hepatic steroid and xenobiotic metabolism in adult rats were studied. Early morphine exposure did not affect the 16α-hydroxylation or 5α-reduction of androstenedione in either sex, but decreased the 7α- and 6β-hydroxylations in both sexes. Morphine exerted a suppressive effect on the ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase activity and increased the ethoxycoumarin-O-deethylase activity in both sexes. Morphine exposure did not significantly affect its own N-demethylation or the total cytochrome P-450 content in the liver. Neonatal morphine exposure caused a significant decrease in body and testes weight in the adult male rat. We conclude that the effects of morphine are not confined to sex-differentiated pathways and are similar in both sexes.