Effect of maternal methadone administration on the development of multiple forms of monoamine oxidase in rat brain and liver.

The development of total monoamine oxidase (MAO) and MAO-A and MAO-B in the forebrain, brainstem, cerebellum and liver of methadone-treated and normal rats were monitored with tryptamine, serotonin and benzylamine, respectively. Daily administration of methadone (10 mg/kg, s.c.) to pregnant and nursing rats substantially retarded the development of total and the A-form of MAO in the brain regions of pups but had no effect on that of MAO-B. The effect of methadone on the development of total MAO and MAO-A in the liver was only transient and less significant. This finding indicates that the perinatal opiate syndrome associated with maternal exposure to methadone is caused by the inhibition in MAO-A development in monoaminergic neurons in the brain.