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Naltrexone modulates growth in infant rats
Life Sci
12 December 1983
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6316064/
Naltrexone, a potent opiate antagonist, had both stimulatory and inhibitory effects on somatic growth in preweaning rats depending on dose. Daily injections of 50 mg/kg naltrexone, which blocked morphine-induced analgesia for 24 hr/day, resulted in increased body and organ weights, and acceleration in the appearance of physical characteristics and maturation of spontaneous motor activity. Naltrexone in a dosage of 1 mg/kg, which blocked morphine-induced analgesia for 4 hr/day, had the opposite effects. These results show that naltrexone can modulate growth, and suggest a role for the endorphins and opiate receptors in developmental events.