%0 Journal Article %A Hamidi, GH. %A Salami, M. %A Talaei, A.R. %T Evaluating Effects of Maternal Separation on Morphine-dependency and Spatial Learning and Memory of Rats %J Internal Medicine Today %V 24 %N 4 %U http://imtj.gmu.ac.ir/article-1-2992-en.html %R %D 2018 %K Maternal deprivation (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/68008426), Morphine (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/68009020), Maze learning (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/68018782), Spatial memory (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/68065852), Rats (https:, %X Aims: Facing maternal separation during early postnatal life leads to disturbances in the cognitive and neuro-chemical activities of the brain. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of maternal separation on spatial learning and memory of morphine-dependent rats. Materials and Methods: This experimental study was carried out on 40 male Wistar rats of 45 days old. Animals were divided into control group (CO), morphine dependent (MD) and 3 group of rats which maternally separated during 1 (MS1), 2 (MS2) and 3 weeks (MS3) after birth. Except CO rats, the other groups were subcutaneously injected 10 mg/kg morphine every 12 hours for 10 days. At the 11th day signs of withdrawal syndrome were evaluated and during next 4 consecutive days spatial learning was evaluated by Morris water maze (MWM). The rats’ spatial memory retrieval was also estimated at the last day. Findings: Although morphine dependence did not affects spatial learning and memory of rats, but 3 weeks maternal separation caused the animals spend more time and travel more distance to find the hidden platform than to CO group (P<0.001 for both of comparisons). Also, they spent less time and passed less distance in the target quadrant in probe trial (P<0.001 for both of comparisons). Conclusion: In conclusion, maternal separation impairs spatial learning and memory of rats. %> http://imtj.gmu.ac.ir/article-1-2992-en.pdf %P 263-269 %& 263 %! %9 Original %L A-10-1984-3 %+ Physiology Research Center, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran. %G eng %@ 2981-0086 %[ 2018