PMID: 8996191Jan 1, 1997Paper

Effect of prenatal fluoxetine (Prozac) exposure on brain serotonin neurons in prepubescent and adult male rat offspring

The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
T M Cabrera-VeraG Battaglia

Abstract

The present study examines the consequences of prenatal fluoxetine exposure on brain serotonin [5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)] neurons in male offspring. Pregnant rats were administered either saline or fluoxetine (10 mg/kg s.c.) daily from gestational day 13 through gestational day 20. The biochemical status of brain 5-HT neurons was assessed in prepubescent and adult offspring by measuring 1) the 5-HT and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid content, 2) the density of [3H]paroxetine-labeled 5-HT uptake sites and 3) the ability of the 5-HT-releasing drug p-chloroamphetamine to reduce 5-HT content. Biochemical parameters were assessed in the frontal cortex, hypothalamus, hippocampus, striatum and midbrain. Comparative effects on dopamine and norepinephrine content in selected regions were also determined. Prenatal exposure to fluoxetine significantly reduced (-28%) 5-HT content in the frontal cortex of prepubescent but not adult male offspring. In contrast, in adult progeny prenatal fluoxetine exposure produced a significant decrease only in midbrain 5-HT content (-28%). In addition, p-chloroamphetamine markedly reduced 5-HT content in all brain regions examined, but the ability of p-chloroamphetamine to reduce 5-HT content was significantl...Continue Reading

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