Perigestational Opioid Exposure Alters Alcohol-Driven Reward Behaviors in Adolescent Rats.

A preprint abstract from biorxiv.org discusses the impact of perigestational opioid exposure (POE) on the reward system in adolescent rats. The study found that POE increased alcohol consumption in female rats under noncontingent conditions, but reduced alcohol consumption in both male and female rats during operant conditioning sessions. The expression of -opioid receptors was also significantly altered in certain brain regions associated with reward and aversion. The research suggests that babies born with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS) may face risks regarding alcohol use later in life. However, it is important to note that this preprint has not yet undergone peer review. [Extracted from the article]