An Investigation of the Long Term Effects of Fentanyl on the Respiratory System

McKay, L. , McCabe, C. and Damanhori, M. M. A. (2018) An Investigation of the Long Term Effects of Fentanyl on the Respiratory System. Federation of European Neurosciences (FENS) Forum 2018, Berlin, Germany, 7-11 July 2018.

Abstract

The mammalian respiratory system at birth is immature, characterised by a fragile and highly variable breathing pattern during postnatal days 1-3 (P1-3) In mice. Around P3-P4, the respiratory system undergoes a step in maturity, after which breathing is less variable and has a higher frequency. The neural mechanisms underlying this maturity step are unknown and whether insults to the system, e.g. exposure to Fentanyl, before and after the maturation step have long-term effects on breathing. To investigate this, ICR mice were exposed daily to the μ-opioid receptor agonist fentanyl (0.08mg/kg i.p.) either pre-maturation (P1-P5, n=15) or post-maturation (P9-P13, n=15). Control animals received saline injections. We hypothesized that repeated exposure to Fentanyl during early life would have long-term effects on breathing pattern. Upon completion of the injection regime, all mice developed to young adults. In adulthood baseline breathing pattern was recorded using plethysmography, the effects of a further injection of Fentanyl during wakefulness was recorded, and laser speckle imaging was performed on anaesthetised adult mice to determine the effects of Fentanyl on cerebral blood flow and breathing. Mice previously exposed to Fentanyl in young life displayed normal breathing pattern during wakefulness in adulthood; however, displayed a desensitisation to further insults to Fentanyl compared to controls during wakefulness but hypersensitivity to Fentanyl in an anaesthetised states. These results indicate a long-term effect of exposure to Fentanyl on breathing, which is state dependant; however, the underlying mechanisms leading to these changes require further investigation.

• Item Type: Conference or Workshop Item
• Status: Published
• Refereed: No
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: McKay, Dr Leanne and Damanhori, Majdi Mohammedzaki A and McCabe, Dr Chris
• Authors: McKay, L., McCabe, C., and Damanhori, M. M. A.
• Subjects: Q Science > QP Physiology
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Life Sciences; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Psychology & Neuroscience

Related URLs

• Organisation