Paternal pregestational opiate expossure in male mice: neuroendocrine deficits in their offspring

The effects of pregestational morphine administration to male rats on the reproductive endocrinology of their adult male offspring were evaluated. We found that serum luteinizing hormone levels were markedly attenuated in morphine-derived animals, relative to controls, subsequent to castration. Serum testosterone levels and seminal vesicle weights in sham-operated, morphine-derived animals were slightly lower than in controls, whereas pituitary LH levels were significantly higher. The mechanisms reponsible for these transgenerational neuroendocrine deficits in the adult male offspring of morphine-exposed male rats are under examination.