Defects in Wistar Rat’s Embryo and Placenta Development: A [C]14-Morphine Study

Background: In previous studies it has been emphasized that morphine effectiveness site may be either in the embryo or the placenta. In this study, we perused the morphine effect site in embryo with placenta, simultaneously. Animals treated by C14-Morphine.
Material and Methods: Experimental groups received daily doses of 0.05mg/ml C14-morphine in their drinking water. On the 9th and14th embryonic days, the rats were anesthetized, embryos with the placenta removed and were fixed in 10% formalin for two weeks. Then, processed, sectioned in 5 and 25µm thicknesses, and fixed on glass slides for further evaluation. The 25µm sections were delivered to black and white film for three days. Films processed and evaluated with a digital inverse microscope for possible radiological impression. The 5µm sections were processed for H&E staining, and evaluated by light microscope and MOTIC software.
Results: Results showed that total surface of 9th- day placenta and embryo, increases simultaneously in compare with control one. 14th- day placenta, showed a significant decrease. Labeled morphine consumption data, revealed that maximum location of morphine effect aggregation is simultaneously on the placental villi and whole embryo.
Conclusion: Morphine effect to detect embryo’s normal growth can be result from its effect on normal placental development and its passage from placental barrier.