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Singh P, Agrawal P, Singh KP. Prenatal exposure to vortioxetine and vilazodone: Impact on depressive- and anxiety-like behavioral manifestations in young rat offspring. Behav Brain Res 2024; 471:115128. [PMID: 38945303 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2024.115128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2024] [Revised: 06/14/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD) affects millions of people worldwide, with women at a higher risk during the childbearing age. Vortioxetine (VOX) and Vilazodone (VLZ) are newer antidepressants with improved therapeutic profile commonly used, but their safety during pregnancy and long-term effects on offspring are poorly understood due to paucity of literature in preclinical and clinical studies. This study aimed to investigate whether prenatal exposure to VOX and VLZ impacts depressive- and anxiety-like neurobehavioral alterations in offspring, focusing on neurotransmitter-mediated mechanisms. Pregnant Wistar dams received either VOX or VLZ, 1 mg/day and 2 mg/day of the drug orally from gestation day (GD) 6-21. The dams naturally delivered their offspring and reared until they reached postnatal day (PND) 21. Offspring of both sexes were tested for display of depressive-and anxiety-like behaviors from PND 56-70. After PND 70, offspring were sacrificed, and their brains were collected to estimate neurotransmitter levels. As per protocol, controls were maintained simultaneously for each experimental design. Prenatal exposure to VOX or VLZ induced an increased state of depressive- and anxiety-like behaviors in both male and female offspring. Additionally, neurotransmitter (serotonin, dopamine, and nor-epinephrine) levels in the prefrontal cortex region of the brain were substantially reduced in exposed offspring. No sex specific neurobehavioral and neurochemical implications were observed in the present study. Our findings suggest that prenatal exposure to VOX and VLZ disrupts neurochemical balance in the fetal brain, leading to long-lasting neurobehavioral impairments in offspring of both sexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pallavi Singh
- Neurobiology Lab., Department of Zoology, University of Allahabad, Prayagraj 211002, India.
| | - Priyanka Agrawal
- Neurobiology Lab., Department of Zoology, University of Allahabad, Prayagraj 211002, India.
| | - K P Singh
- Neurobiology Lab., Department of Zoology, University of Allahabad, Prayagraj 211002, India.
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2
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Gallo MT, Brivio P, Dolci B, Fumagalli F, Calabrese F. Perinatal serotonergic manipulation shapes anhedonic and cognitive behaviors in a sex- and age-dependent manner: Identification of related biological functions at central and peripheral level. Brain Behav Immun 2023; 114:118-130. [PMID: 37595877 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2023.08.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Poor knowledge about psychiatric disorders often results in similar diagnoses for patients with different symptoms, thus limiting the effectiveness of the available medications. As suggested by several lines of evidence, to improve these shortcomings, it is essential to identify biomarkers associated with specific symptoms and to stratify patients into more homogeneous populations taking a further step toward personalized medicine. Here, we aimed to associate specific behavioral phenotypes with specific molecular alterations by employing an animal model based on the pharmacological manipulation of the serotonergic system, which mimics a condition of vulnerability to develop psychiatric disorders. In particular, we treated female and male rats with fluoxetine (FLX 15 mg/kg dissolved in drinking water) during prenatal or early postnatal life, and we evaluated different pathological-like phenotypes (cognitive deficit, anhedonia, and anxiety) by exposing the rats to a battery of behavioral tests during adolescence and adulthood. In addition, we carried out molecular analyses on specific brain areas and in the blood. Our results showed that perinatal FLX administration determined age- and sex-dependent effects, with males being more sensitive to prenatal manipulation and manifesting anhedonic-like behavior and females to early postnatal exposure, exhibiting cognitive deficits and a less anxious phenotype. Furthermore, we identified, peripherally and centrally, biological functions altered by perinatal serotonin modulation regardless of the timing of exposure and sex, and other pathways specific for the pathological-like phenotypes. The results presented here provide new insights into potential biomarkers associated with specific behavioral phenotypes that may be useful for broadening knowledge about psychiatric conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Teresa Gallo
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences "Rodolfo Paoletti", Università Degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Paola Brivio
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences "Rodolfo Paoletti", Università Degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
| | - Beatrice Dolci
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences "Rodolfo Paoletti", Università Degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Fabio Fumagalli
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences "Rodolfo Paoletti", Università Degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Calabrese
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences "Rodolfo Paoletti", Università Degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
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Achterberg EJM, Vanderschuren LJMJ. The neurobiology of social play behaviour: Past, present and future. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 152:105319. [PMID: 37454882 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Social play behaviour is a highly energetic and rewarding activity that is of great importance for the development of brain and behaviour. Social play is abundant during the juvenile and early adolescent phases of life, and it occurs in most mammalian species, as well as in certain birds and reptiles. To date, the majority of research into the neural mechanisms of social play behaviour has been performed in male rats. In the present review we summarize studies on the neurobiology of social play behaviour in rats, including work on pharmacological and genetic models for autism spectrum disorders, early life manipulations and environmental factors that influence play in rats. We describe several recent developments that expand the field, and highlight outstanding questions that may guide future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- E J Marijke Achterberg
- Dept. of Population Health Sciences, Section Animals in Science and Society, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 2, 3584 CM Utrecht, the Netherlands.
| | - Louk J M J Vanderschuren
- Dept. of Population Health Sciences, Section Animals in Science and Society, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 2, 3584 CM Utrecht, the Netherlands.
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Sajdel-Sulkowska EM. The Impact of Maternal Gut Microbiota during Pregnancy on Fetal Gut-Brain Axis Development and Life-Long Health Outcomes. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2199. [PMID: 37764043 PMCID: PMC10538154 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11092199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Gut microbiota plays a critical role in physiological regulation throughout life and is specifically modified to meet the demands of individual life stages and during pregnancy. Maternal gut microbiota is uniquely adapted to the pregnancy demands of the mother and the developing fetus. Both animal studies in pregnant germ-free rodents and human studies have supported a critical association between the composition of maternal microbiota during pregnancy and fetal development. Gut microbiota may also contribute to the development of the fetal gut-brain axis (GBA), which is increasingly recognized for its critical role in health and disease. Most studies consider birth as the time of GBA activation and focus on postnatal GBA development. This review focuses on GBA development during the prenatal period and the impact of maternal gut microbiota on fetal GBA development. It is hypothesized that adaptation of maternal gut microbiota to pregnancy is critical for the GBA prenatal development and maturation of GBA postnatally. Consequently, factors affecting maternal gut microbiota during pregnancy, such as maternal obesity, diet, stress and depression, infection, and medication, also affect fetal GBA development and are critical for GBA activity postnatally. Altered maternal gut microbiota during gestation has been shown to have long-term impact postnatally and multigenerational effects. Thus, understanding the impact of maternal gut microbiota during pregnancy on fetal GBA development is crucial for managing fetal, neonatal, and adult health, and should be included among public health priorities.
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Horackova H, Vachalova V, Abad C, Karahoda R, Staud F. Perfused rat term placenta as a preclinical model to investigate placental dopamine and norepinephrine transport. Clin Sci (Lond) 2023; 137:149-161. [PMID: 36598165 DOI: 10.1042/cs20220726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
The placenta represents a non-neuronal organ capable of transporting and metabolizing monoamines. Since these bioactive molecules participate in numerous processes essential for placental and fetal physiology, any imbalance in their levels during pregnancy may affect brain development, projecting a higher risk of behavioral disorders in childhood or adulthood. Notably, the monoamine system in the placenta is a target of various psychoactive drugs and can be disrupted in several pregnancy pathologies. As research in pregnant women poses significant ethical restrictions, animal models are widely employed to study monoamine homeostasis as a mechanism involved in fetal programming. However, detailed knowledge of monoamine transport in the rat placenta is still lacking. Moreover, relatability to the human placental monoamine system is not examined. The present study provides insights into the transplacental monoamine dynamics between maternal and fetal circulation. We show that norepinephrine maternal-to-fetal transport is <4% due to high metabolism within the trophoblast. In contrast, dopamine maternal-to-fetal transport exceeds 25%, likely through passive transport across the membrane. In addition, we show high clearance of norepinephrine and dopamine from the fetal circulation mediated by the organic cation transporter 3 (OCT3). Altogether, we present transcriptional and functional evidence that the in situ rat placenta perfusion represents a suitable model for (patho)physiological investigation of dopamine and norepinephrine homeostasis in the fetoplacental unit. With the rapid advancements in drug discovery and environmental toxicity, the use of rat placenta as a preclinical model could facilitate screening of possible xenobiotic effects on monoamine homeostasis in the placenta.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hana Horackova
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Kralove, Charles University, Czech Republic
| | - Veronika Vachalova
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Kralove, Charles University, Czech Republic
| | - Cilia Abad
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Kralove, Charles University, Czech Republic
| | - Rona Karahoda
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Kralove, Charles University, Czech Republic
| | - Frantisek Staud
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Kralove, Charles University, Czech Republic
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Abstract
Many (> 40%) women discontinue antidepressants during pregnancy because of concerns about effects on the foetus, based on information from inadequately-controlled studies. The sibling-control study design provides the best control for confounding factors, notably maternal depression. The purpose of this review was to investigate the evidence from sibling-control analyses for adverse outcomes in offspring associated with antidepressant exposure during pregnancy. Fourteen sibling-control studies were identified through searches of PubMed and Embase. Outcomes included preterm birth, small for gestational age, neonatal size, birth defects, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), behavioural problems, neurodevelopmental deficits, and scholastic attainment. For the majority of these outcomes, no statistically significant associations were found when comparing exposed and unexposed siblings. Single studies reported associations with preterm birth, reduced gestational age, ADHD, anxiety at 36 months, and lower mathematics test scores, which persisted in the sibling-control analyses. However, differences were small and possibly not clinically significant. Moreover, effects of residual confounding could not be excluded. These findings provide evidence that many of the previously reported associations between prenatal antidepressant exposure and adverse outcomes in offspring are no longer statistically significant when exposed offspring are compared with unexposed siblings. The few statistically significant differences in sibling-control analyses were generally small with doubtful clinical significance. Decisions on antidepressant treatment during pregnancy should be made individually, based on evidence from properly controlled studies, not on misleading information based on studies that have not controlled adequately for confounding factors.
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Linhares SSG, Meurer YDSR, de Aquino ACQ, Câmara DDA, Brandão LEM, Fiuza FP, Lima RH, Engelberth RCJG, Cavalcante JS. Prenatal exposure to fluoxetine modulates emotionality and aversive memory in male and female rat offspring. Behav Pharmacol 2022; 33:575-588. [PMID: 36256730 DOI: 10.1097/fbp.0000000000000705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
During pregnancy, women are prone to depression, for which selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as fluoxetine, are usually the first-line treatment. However, fluoxetine can cross the placental barrier and affect fetuses, causing changes in serotonin levels early in life. Long-term effects in the brain circuits that control cognitive and emotional behavior are related to early fluoxetine exposure during development. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether fluoxetine exposure (10 mg/kg/day) from the 13th gestational day (GD13) to GD21 may lead to behavioral emotional-cognitive changes in male and female rat offspring approximately 90 days postnatally (~PN90). We have analyzed the performance of individuals in the open field and in the plus-maze discriminative avoidance task, which assesses anxiety and learning/memory processing behaviors. We have found that prenatal (GD13-GD21) exposure to fluoxetine strengthened aversive memory and induced higher anxiety levels in males, and quick extinction of aversive memory in females. Taken together, these results suggest that early exposure to fluoxetine impairs the basal state of anxiety and the cognitive functions of rats during adulthood, which may be in a sex-specific manner because males appear more susceptible than females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Sophia G Linhares
- Laboratory of Neurochemical Studies, Department of Physiology, Bioscience Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil
| | - Ywlliane da Silva R Meurer
- Laboratory of Neurochemical Studies, Department of Physiology, Bioscience Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil
| | - Antônio Carlos Queiroz de Aquino
- Laboratory of Neurochemical Studies, Department of Physiology, Bioscience Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil
| | - Diego de Aquino Câmara
- Laboratory of Neurochemical Studies, Department of Physiology, Bioscience Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil
| | | | - Felipe Porto Fiuza
- Graduate Program in Neuroengineering, Edmond and Lily Safra International Institute of Neuroscience, Santos Dumont Institute, Macaíba, Brazil
| | - Ramón Hypolito Lima
- Graduate Program in Neuroengineering, Edmond and Lily Safra International Institute of Neuroscience, Santos Dumont Institute, Macaíba, Brazil
| | - Rovena Clara J G Engelberth
- Laboratory of Neurochemical Studies, Department of Physiology, Bioscience Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil
| | - Jeferson Souza Cavalcante
- Laboratory of Neurochemical Studies, Department of Physiology, Bioscience Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil
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8
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Wei ML, He SM, Chen AQ, Fan ZX, Liu W, Zhang L, Lv SJ, Qiu CZ, Liu HR, Hao MX, Yin ZJ, Ren DL. Fluoxetine modifies circadian rhythm by reducing melatonin content in zebrafish. Biomed Pharmacother 2022; 153:113268. [PMID: 35777221 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.113268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2022] [Revised: 05/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Fluoxetine (FLX), a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), increases the serotonin levels in the brain to treat depression. Antidepressants have been demonstrated to modulate circadian rhythm, but the underlying mechanisms by which antidepressants regulate circadian rhythm require more research. This study aimed to investigate the role of FLX on circadian rhythm by analyzing the movement behavior and internal circadian oscillations in zebrafish. The results showed that the expression of clock genes clock1a and bmal1b was significantly down-regulated, and the amplitude reduction and phase shift were observed after FLX treatment. Furthermore, FLX exposure inhibited the expression of aanat2, which led to a decrease in nocturnal melatonin secretion. aanat2-/- larvae showed disrupted circadian rhythm. These findings may help reveal the effect of FLX exposure on the circadian rhythm and locomotor activity. It may provide theoretical data for the clinical application of FLX.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei-Li Wei
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Local Livestock and Poultry Genetic Resource Conservation and Bio-breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China; School of Life Science, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Translational Cancer Research, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Immunology in Chronic Diseases, Anhui Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, Anhui Province 233030, China
| | - Shi-Min He
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Local Livestock and Poultry Genetic Resource Conservation and Bio-breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
| | - An-Qi Chen
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Local Livestock and Poultry Genetic Resource Conservation and Bio-breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
| | - Zi-Xuan Fan
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Local Livestock and Poultry Genetic Resource Conservation and Bio-breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
| | - Wei Liu
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Local Livestock and Poultry Genetic Resource Conservation and Bio-breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
| | - Ling Zhang
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Local Livestock and Poultry Genetic Resource Conservation and Bio-breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
| | - Shi-Jie Lv
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Local Livestock and Poultry Genetic Resource Conservation and Bio-breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
| | - Cheng-Zeng Qiu
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Local Livestock and Poultry Genetic Resource Conservation and Bio-breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
| | - Hui-Ru Liu
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Local Livestock and Poultry Genetic Resource Conservation and Bio-breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
| | - Mu-Xian Hao
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Local Livestock and Poultry Genetic Resource Conservation and Bio-breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
| | - Zong-Jun Yin
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Local Livestock and Poultry Genetic Resource Conservation and Bio-breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China.
| | - Da-Long Ren
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Local Livestock and Poultry Genetic Resource Conservation and Bio-breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China.
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Effect of chronic exposure to sertraline on social and cognitive behavior of adult male and female rats under social isolation stress. LEARNING AND MOTIVATION 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.lmot.2022.101807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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10
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Guedes Linhares SS, da Silva Rodrigues Meurer Y, Aquino A, Aquino Câmara D, Mateus Brandão LE, Dierschnabel AL, Porto Fiuza F, Hypólito Lima R, Engelberth RC, Cavalcante JS. Effects of prenatal exposure to fluoxetine on circadian rhythmicity in the locomotor activity and neuropeptide Y and 5-HT expression in male and female adult Wistar rats. Int J Dev Neurosci 2022; 82:407-422. [PMID: 35481929 DOI: 10.1002/jdn.10189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Revised: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Serotonin (5-HT) reuptake inhibitors, such as fluoxetine, are the most prescribed antidepressant for maternal depression. In this sense, it exposes mothers and the brains of infants to increased modulatory and trophic effects of serotonergic neurotransmission. 5-HT promotes essential brain changes throughout its development, which include neuron migration, differentiation, and organization of neural circuitries related to emotional, cognitive, and circadian behavior. Early exposure to the SSRIs induces long-term effects on behavioral and neural serotonergic signalization. We have aimed to evaluate the circadian rhythm of locomotor activity and the neurochemical content, neuropeptide Y (NPY) and 5-HT in three brain areas: intergeniculate leaflet (IGL), suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) and raphe nuclei (RN), at two zeitgebers (ZT6 and ZT18), in male and female rat's offspring early exposed (developmental period GD13-GD21) to fluoxetine (20mg/kg). First, we have conducted daily records of the locomotor activity rhythm using activity sensors coupled to individual cages over four weeks. We have lastly evaluated the immunoreactivity of NPY in both SCN and IGL, and as well the 5-HT expression in the dorsal and medial RN. In summary, our results showed that (1) prenatal fluoxetine affects phase entrainment of the rest/activity rhythm at ZT6 and ZT18, more in male than female specimens, and (2) modulates the NPY and 5-HT expression. Here, we show male rats are more susceptible to phase entrainment and the NPY and 5-HT misexpression compared to female ones. The sex differences induced by early exposure to fluoxetine in both the circadian rhythm of locomotor activity and the neurochemical expression into SCN, IGL, and midbrain raphe are an important highlight in the present work. Thus, our results may help to improve the knowledge on neurobiological mechanisms of circadian rhythms and are relevant to understanding the "broken brains" and behavioral abnormalities of offspring early exposed to antidepressants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Sophia Guedes Linhares
- Laboratory of Neurochemical Studies, Department of Physiology and Behavior, Biosciences Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil
| | - Ywlliane da Silva Rodrigues Meurer
- Laboratory of Neurochemical Studies, Department of Physiology and Behavior, Biosciences Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil
| | - Antonio Aquino
- Laboratory of Neurochemical Studies, Department of Physiology and Behavior, Biosciences Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil
| | - Diego Aquino Câmara
- Laboratory of Neurochemical Studies, Department of Physiology and Behavior, Biosciences Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil
| | | | - Aline Lima Dierschnabel
- Laboratory of Neurochemical Studies, Department of Physiology and Behavior, Biosciences Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil
| | - Felipe Porto Fiuza
- Edmond and Lily Safra International Institute of Neuroscience, Santos Dumont Institute, Graduate Program in Neuroengineering, Macaíba, Brazil
| | - Ramon Hypólito Lima
- Edmond and Lily Safra International Institute of Neuroscience, Santos Dumont Institute, Graduate Program in Neuroengineering, Macaíba, Brazil
| | - Rovena Clara Engelberth
- Laboratory of Neurochemical Studies, Department of Physiology and Behavior, Biosciences Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil
| | - Jeferson Souza Cavalcante
- Laboratory of Neurochemical Studies, Department of Physiology and Behavior, Biosciences Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil
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11
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Lozano AFQ, Moura MS, Tavares BM, Kempinas WDG. Exposure of pregnant rats to stress and/or sertraline: Side effects on maternal health and neurobehavioral development of male offspring. Life Sci 2021; 285:119960. [PMID: 34536495 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2021.119960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Sertraline (SE) is one of the most prescribed medications for treating gestational depression, anxiety and stress. However, little is known about its effects on nervous-system development in offspring. Therefore, this study investigated the somatic, reflex and neurobehavioral development of rats exposed to SE during pregnancy, associated or not with stress. MAIN METHODS Pregnant Wistar rats were assigned to the following groups (n = 10-8 rats/group): CO - control animals administered filtered water by gavage; SE - animals administered 20 mg/kg SE by gavage; ST - animals subjected to restraining stress and administered filtered water; ST/SE - animals subjected to restraining stress and administered 20 mg/kg SE. The treatment was administered between gestational days (GD) 13 to 20. Somatic and reflex developments were investigated in the male offspring from postnatal day (PND) 1 to 21. The elevated plus maze was performed on PND 25 and 80. The open field and light/dark box test were performed on PND 90 and 100, respectively. KEY FINDINGS Body weight reduction and vaginal bleeding were observed in pregnant rats exposed to SE. The male offspring of the SE group showed delay in incisor eruption, fur development and negative geotaxis. In addition, the SE group was less exploratory (anxious personality) compared to the CO and ST groups. SIGNIFICANCE The results obtained in the present study demonstrate that sertraline not only impairs maternal health, but also, associated or not with stress, can compromise the somatic, reflex and neurobehavioral development of male rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Flávia Quiarato Lozano
- Graduate Program in General and Applied Biology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Institute of Biosciences, Botucatu, SP, Brazil; Laboratory of Reproductive and Developmental Biology and Toxicology, Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
| | - Mayara Silva Moura
- Graduate Program in General and Applied Biology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Institute of Biosciences, Botucatu, SP, Brazil; Laboratory of Reproductive and Developmental Biology and Toxicology, Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, SP, Brazil
| | - Bruna Marques Tavares
- Laboratory of Reproductive and Developmental Biology and Toxicology, Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, SP, Brazil
| | - Wilma De Grava Kempinas
- Laboratory of Reproductive and Developmental Biology and Toxicology, Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, SP, Brazil
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12
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Leussis MP, Thanos JM, Powers A, Peterson E, Head JP, McGovern NJ, Malarkey FJ, Drake A. Sex differences in long-term behavioral alterations, especially anxiety, following prenatal fluoxetine exposure in C57BL/6 mice. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2021; 211:173293. [PMID: 34744001 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2021.173293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Revised: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Evidence demonstrates that psychiatric disorders during pregnancy are detrimental to the offspring. Many disorders are treated with SSRIs and increasing numbers of pregnant women now receive these drugs during gestation. The long-term neurobehavioral consequences of prenatal SSRI exposure require further evaluation. This study examined the effects of prenatal fluoxetine exposure in mice in an extensive battery of behaviors related to neurodevelopment, mood, social, and repetitive behaviors. C57BL/6J dams were administered fluoxetine at a low (0.6 mg/kg/day) or high (6 mg/kg/day) dose or saline from embryonic days 8 to 18. Juvenile mice were tested for changes in ultrasonic vocalizations and neuromotor development. In adulthood, offspring were tested for changes in behaviors related to anxiety, depression, social, and repetitive behaviors. Prenatal exposure to fluoxetine impaired surface righting reflex at P5, and sex-dependently reduced the frequency of ultrasonic vocalizations in juvenile males but not females. In adulthood, both males and females prenatally exposed to high, but not low, doses of fluoxetine exhibited an increase in repetitive behaviors in the marble burying task and a decrease in sucrose preference. Males, but not females, exposed to fluoxetine exhibited increased anxiety-related behaviors in the elevated plus maze. Prenatal fluoxetine exposure did not affect other adult behaviors including social preference, self-grooming, passive avoidance and open field activity. These findings suggest males are more sensitive than females to disruptions in serotonin balance during prenatal development and highlight the need for additional systematic and mechanistic studies to evaluate the impact of fluoxetine exposure during other periods of gestation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie P Leussis
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Emmanuel College, Boston, MA 02115, United States of America.
| | - Jessica M Thanos
- Department of Biology, Emmanuel College, Boston, MA 02115, United States of America
| | - Alex Powers
- Department of Biology, Emmanuel College, Boston, MA 02115, United States of America
| | - Emalee Peterson
- Department of Biology, Emmanuel College, Boston, MA 02115, United States of America
| | - Joshua P Head
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Emmanuel College, Boston, MA 02115, United States of America
| | - Nathan J McGovern
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Emmanuel College, Boston, MA 02115, United States of America
| | - Francis J Malarkey
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Emmanuel College, Boston, MA 02115, United States of America
| | - Anna Drake
- Department of Biology, Emmanuel College, Boston, MA 02115, United States of America
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13
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Cunha C, Smiley JF, Chuhma N, Shah R, Bleiwas C, Menezes EC, Seal RP, Edwards RH, Rayport S, Ansorge MS, Castellanos FX, Teixeira CM. Perinatal interference with the serotonergic system affects VTA function in the adult via glutamate co-transmission. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:4795-4812. [PMID: 32398719 PMCID: PMC7657958 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-020-0763-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2019] [Revised: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 04/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Serotonin and dopamine are associated with multiple psychiatric disorders. How they interact during development to affect subsequent behavior remains unknown. Knockout of the serotonin transporter or postnatal blockade with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) leads to novelty-induced exploration deficits in adulthood, potentially involving the dopamine system. Here, we show in the mouse that raphe nucleus serotonin neurons activate ventral tegmental area dopamine neurons via glutamate co-transmission and that this co-transmission is reduced in animals exposed postnatally to SSRIs. Blocking serotonin neuron glutamate co-transmission mimics this SSRI-induced hypolocomotion, while optogenetic activation of dopamine neurons reverses this hypolocomotor phenotype. Our data demonstrate that serotonin neurons modulate dopamine neuron activity via glutamate co-transmission and that this pathway is developmentally malleable, with high serotonin levels during early life reducing co-transmission, revealing the basis for the reduced novelty-induced exploration in adulthood due to postnatal SSRI exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catarina Cunha
- Emotional Brain Institute, Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY, 10962, USA
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - John F Smiley
- Emotional Brain Institute, Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY, 10962, USA
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Nao Chuhma
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University and New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, 10032, USA
- Department of Molecular Therapeutics, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Relish Shah
- Emotional Brain Institute, Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY, 10962, USA
| | - Cynthia Bleiwas
- Emotional Brain Institute, Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY, 10962, USA
| | - Edenia C Menezes
- Emotional Brain Institute, Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY, 10962, USA
| | - Rebecca P Seal
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, 15260, USA
| | - Robert H Edwards
- Departments of Neurology and Physiology, University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - Stephen Rayport
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University and New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, 10032, USA
- Department of Molecular Therapeutics, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Mark S Ansorge
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University and New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, 10032, USA
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Francisco X Castellanos
- Emotional Brain Institute, Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY, 10962, USA
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Catia M Teixeira
- Emotional Brain Institute, Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY, 10962, USA.
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA.
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14
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Moraga-Amaro R, Díaz-Galarce R, Donoso-Ramos JP, Ugalde V, Linsambarth S, Doorduin J, de Vries EF, Ampuero E, Peña F, Pacheco R, Wyneken U, Stehberg J. Prenatal fluoxetine impairs non-hippocampal but not hippocampal memory in adult male rat offspring. Neuropharmacology 2021; 197:108751. [PMID: 34375626 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2021.108751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Revised: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Fluoxetine is often prescribed to treat depression during pregnancy. Rodent studies have shown that fluoxetine exposure during early development can induce persistent changes in the emotional behavior of the offspring. However, the effects of prenatal fluoxetine on memory have not been elucidated. This study evaluates the memory of adult male offspring from rat dams orally administered with a clinically relevant dose of 0.7 mg/kg fluoxetine from 9 weeks before pregnancy to 1 week before delivery. Hippocampal-dependent (Morris Water Maze, MWM) and non-hippocampal-dependent (Novel Object Recognition, NOR) memory paradigms were assessed. Anxiety- and depressive-like symptoms were also evaluated using the Open Field Test, Tail Suspension Test and Sucrose Preference Test. Male rats exposed to fluoxetine during gestation displayed NOR memory impairments during adulthood, as well as increased anxiety- and depressive-like symptoms. In the MWM, the offspring of fluoxetine-treated dams did not show learning deficits. However, a retention impairment was found on remote memory, 15 days after the end of training. Molecular analyses showed increased expression of NMDA subunit NR2B, and a decrease in NR2A-to- NR2B ratio in the temporal cortex, but not in the hippocampus, suggesting changes in NMDA receptor composition. These results suggest that in utero exposure to fluoxetine induces detrimental effects on non-hippocampal memory and in remote retention of hippocampal-dependent memory, which is believed to be stored in the temporal cortex, possibly due to changes in cortical NMDA receptor subunit stoichiometry. The present results warrant the need for studies on potential remote memory deficits in human offspring exposed to fluoxetine in utero.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Moraga-Amaro
- Laboratorio de Neurobiologia, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile; Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Raul Díaz-Galarce
- Laboratorio de Neurobiologia, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Juan P Donoso-Ramos
- Laboratorio de Neurobiologia, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Valentina Ugalde
- Laboratorio de Neuroinmunología, Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, Chile; Facultad de Medicina y Ciencia, Universidad San Sebastián, Providencia, 7510156, Santiago, Chile
| | - Sergio Linsambarth
- Laboratorio de Neurobiologia, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Janine Doorduin
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Erik Fj de Vries
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Estibaliz Ampuero
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Química y Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Chile (USACH), Alameda 3363, Estación Central, Santiago, 9170022, Chile
| | - Francisca Peña
- Laboratorio de Neurobiologia, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Rodrigo Pacheco
- Laboratorio de Neuroinmunología, Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, Chile; Facultad de Medicina y Ciencia, Universidad San Sebastián, Providencia, 7510156, Santiago, Chile
| | - Ursula Wyneken
- Laboratorio de Neurociencias, Universidad de los Andes, Chile
| | - Jimmy Stehberg
- Laboratorio de Neurobiologia, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile.
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15
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Meymandi MS, Sepehri G, Moslemizadeh A, Shahrbabaki SSV. Prenatal Pregabalin Exposure Alters Postnatal Pain Sensitivity and Some Behavioral Responses in Adult Offspring Rats. Curr Drug Saf 2021; 15:205-214. [PMID: 32598270 DOI: 10.2174/1574886315666200628114257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2020] [Revised: 05/26/2020] [Accepted: 05/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal antiepileptic drug exposure could demonstrate both congenital malformations and behavioral impairments in offspring. OBJECTIVE This study was performed to assess the effects of prenatal exposure to pregabalin (PGB) on pain response, anxiety, motor activity and some behavior of adult offspring rats. METHODS Pregnant Wistar rats received PGB (7.5, 15 and 30 mg/kg/ip) during embryonic days 9.5- 15.5. The pain response, anxiety-like behaviors, locomotor activity, motor balance and coordination and anhedonia of adult offspring were examined by tail-flick and hot plate test, open field test, elevated plus maze (EPM), beam balance test and sucrose preference test in their 60th day of life, respectively. RESULTS Prenatal exposure to PGB revealed significant dose-dependent reduction in pain sensitivity (increase in pain latency response) in the hot plate test, especially in females, while anxiety-like behavior assessed in EPM and open field significantly reduced in males. In the open field, locomotor activity reduced significantly after exposure to PGB 30 mg/kg and motor coordination decreased dose-dependently, especially in males. Anhedonia, as an indication of sucrose preference or pleasure response, was not changed. CONCLUSION These findings suggest that prenatal PGB exposure could be associated with significant changes in pain response, anxiety, locomotor activity and coordination in adult offspring rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manzumeh-Shamsi Meymandi
- Pathology and Stem Cells Research Center, Kerman Medical School, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran,Physiology and Pharmacology Department, Kerman Medical School, Kerman University of Medical Sciences,
Kerman, Iran
| | - Gholamreza Sepehri
- Kerman Neuroscience Research Center, Neuropharmacology Institute, Kerman University of Medical
Sciences, Kerman, Iran
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16
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Vuong HE, Coley EJL, Kazantsev M, Cooke ME, Rendon TK, Paramo J, Hsiao EY. Interactions between maternal fluoxetine exposure, the maternal gut microbiome and fetal neurodevelopment in mice. Behav Brain Res 2021; 410:113353. [PMID: 33979656 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Revised: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most widely used treatment by women experiencing depression during pregnancy. However, the effects of maternal SSRI use on early offspring development remain poorly understood. Recent studies suggest that SSRIs can modify the gut microbiota and interact directly with particular gut bacteria, raising the question of whether the gut microbiome impacts host responses to SSRIs. In this study, we investigate effects of prenatal SSRI exposure on fetal neurodevelopment and further evaluate potential modulatory influences of the maternal gut microbiome. We demonstrate that maternal treatment with the SSRI fluoxetine induces widespread alterations in the fetal brain transcriptome during midgestation, including increases in the expression of genes relevant to synaptic organization and neuronal signaling and decreases in the expression of genes related to DNA replication and mitosis. Notably, maternal fluoxetine treatment from E7.5 to E14.5 has no overt effects on the composition of the maternal gut microbiota. However, maternal pretreatment with antibiotics to deplete the gut microbiome substantially modifies transcriptional responses of the fetal brain to maternal fluoxetine treatment. In particular, maternal fluoxetine treatment elevates localized expression of the opioid binding protein/cell adhesion molecule like gene Opcml in the fetal thalamus and lateral ganglionic eminence, which is prevented by maternal antibiotic treatment. Together, these findings reveal that maternal fluoxetine treatment alters gene expression in the fetal brain through pathways that are impacted, at least in part, by the presence of the maternal gut microbiota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen E Vuong
- Department of Integrative Biology & Physiology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
| | - Elena J L Coley
- Department of Integrative Biology & Physiology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Maria Kazantsev
- Department of Integrative Biology & Physiology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Michaela E Cooke
- Department of Integrative Biology & Physiology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Tomiko K Rendon
- Department of Integrative Biology & Physiology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Jorge Paramo
- Department of Integrative Biology & Physiology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Elaine Y Hsiao
- Department of Integrative Biology & Physiology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
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17
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Meurer YDSR, Linhares SSG, Lima ADC, de Aquino ACQ, Brandão LEM, Nôga DA, Campelo CLDC, Lima RH, Cavalcante JDS, Engelberth RCGJ, Ribeiro AM, Silva RH. Postnatal exposure to fluoxetine led to cognitive-emotional alterations and decreased parvalbumin positive neurons in the hippocampus of juvenile Wistar rats. Int J Dev Neurosci 2021; 81:616-632. [PMID: 34196404 DOI: 10.1002/jdn.10139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Revised: 05/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The exposure to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) during development results in behavioural impairment in adulthood in humans and animal models. Indeed, serotonergic overexpression in early life leads to structural and functional changes in brain circuits that control cognition and emotion. However, the effects of developmental exposure to these substances on the behaviour of adolescent rats are conflicting and remain poorly characterised. We performed a behavioural screening to investigate the effects of postnatal exposure to fluoxetine on memory and behaviours related to anxiety, anhedonia, and depression, as well we evaluate the parvalbumin expression in hippocampus of juvenile (~PND45) female and male rats. Fluoxetine (daily 20 mg/kg s.c. injections from PND7-PND21)- or vehicle-treated adolescent rats went through several behavioural tasks (from PND 38 to PND52) and were subject to transcardial perfusion and brain removal for immunohistochemical analysis (PND53). We found that postnatal exposure to fluoxetine increased anxiety- and depression-like behaviours in the open field and sucrose preference and forced swimming tests, respectively. In addition, this treatment induced working memory and short-term (but not long-term) recognition memory impairments, and reduced parvalbumin-positive interneurons in the hippocampus. In addition, the results revealed developmental sex-dependent effects of fluoxetine postnatal treatment on adolescent rats' behaviour. These outcomes indicate that affective disorders and mnemonic alterations caused by SSRIs perinatal exposure can be present at adolescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ywlliane da Silva Rodrigues Meurer
- Behavioral Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.,Memory and Cognition Studies Laboratory, Post-graduate Program of Cognitive Neuroscience and Behavior, Department of Psychology, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa, Brazil.,Laboratory of Neurochemical Studies, Department of Physiology and Behavior, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
| | - Sara Sophia Guedes Linhares
- Laboratory of Neurochemical Studies, Department of Physiology and Behavior, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
| | - Alvaro da Costa Lima
- Memory and Cognition Studies Laboratory, Post-graduate Program of Cognitive Neuroscience and Behavior, Department of Psychology, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa, Brazil
| | - Antonio Carlos Queiroz de Aquino
- Laboratory of Neurochemical Studies, Department of Physiology and Behavior, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Ramon Hypólito Lima
- Graduate Program in Neuroengineering, Edmond and Lily Safra International Institute of Neuroscience, Santos Dumont Institute, Macaíba, Brazil
| | - Jeferson de Souza Cavalcante
- Laboratory of Neurochemical Studies, Department of Physiology and Behavior, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
| | | | - Alessandra Mussi Ribeiro
- Laboratory of Neuroscience and Bioprospecting of Natural Products, Department of Biosciences, Federal University of São Paulo, Santos, Brazil
| | - Regina Helena Silva
- Behavioral Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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18
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Liu K, Garcia A, Park JJ, Toliver AA, Ramos L, Aizenman CD. Early Developmental Exposure to Fluoxetine and Citalopram Results in Different Neurodevelopmental Outcomes. Neuroscience 2021; 467:110-121. [PMID: 34048796 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2021.05.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2020] [Revised: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Although selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are commonly prescribed for prenatal depression, there exists controversy over adverse effects of SSRI use on fetal development. Few studies have adequately isolated outcomes due to SSRI exposure and those due to maternal psychiatric conditions. Here, we directly investigated outcomes of exposure to widely-used SSRIs Fluoxetine and Citalopram on the developing nervous system of Xenopus laevis tadpoles, using an integrative experimental approach. We exposed tadpoles to low doses of Citalopram and Fluoxetine during a critical developmental period and found that different experimental groups displayed opposing behavioral effects. While both groups showed reduced schooling behavior, the Fluoxetine group showed increased seizure susceptibility and reduced startle habituation. In contrast, Citalopram treated tadpoles had decreased seizure susceptibility and increased habituation. Both groups had abnormal dendritic morphology in the optic tectum, a brain area important for behaviors tested. Whole-cell electrophysiological recordings of tectal neurons showed no differences in synaptic function; however, tectal cells from Fluoxetine-treated tadpoles had decreased voltage gated K+ currents while cells in the Citalopram group had increased K+ currents. Both behavioral and electrophysiological findings indicate that cells and circuits in the Fluoxetine treated optic tecta are hyperexcitable, while the Citalopram group exhibits decreased excitability. Taken together, these results show that early developmental exposure to SSRIs is sufficient to induce neurodevelopmental effects, however these effects can be complex and vary depending on the SSRI. This may explain some discrepancies across human studies, and further underscores the importance of serotonergic signaling for the developing nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karine Liu
- Department of Neuroscience, Brown University, United States
| | - Alfonso Garcia
- Department of Neuroscience, Brown University, United States
| | - Jenn J Park
- Department of Neuroscience, Brown University, United States
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19
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Chan SJ, Nutting VI, Natterson TA, Horowitz BN. Impacts of Psychopharmaceuticals on the Neurodevelopment of Aquatic Wildlife: A Call for Increased Knowledge Exchange across Disciplines to Highlight Implications for Human Health. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18105094. [PMID: 34065793 PMCID: PMC8151291 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18105094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Revised: 04/24/2021] [Accepted: 04/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
The global use of psychopharmaceuticals such as antidepressants has been steadily increasing. However, the environmental consequences of increased use are rarely considered by medical professionals. Worldwide monitoring efforts have shown that pharmaceuticals are amongst the multitude of anthropogenic pollutants found in our waterways, where excretion via urine and feces is thought to be the primary mode of pharmaceutical contamination. Despite the lack of clarity surrounding the effects of the unintentional exposure to these chemicals, most notably in babies and in developing fetuses, the US Environmental Protection Agency does not currently regulate any psychopharmaceuticals in drinking water. As the underlying reasons for the increased incidence of mental illness—particularly in young children and adolescents—are poorly understood, the potential effects of unintentional exposure warrant more attention. Thus, although links between environmental contamination and physiological and behavioral changes in wildlife species—most notably in fish—have been used by ecologists and wildlife biologists to drive conservation policy and management practices, we hypothesize that this knowledge may be underutilized by medical professionals. In order to test this hypothesis, we created a hierarchically-organized citation network built around a highly-cited “parent” article to explore connections between aquatic toxicology and medical fields related to neurodevelopment. As suspected, we observed that studies in medical fields such as developmental neuroscience, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, and psychiatry cite very few to no papers in the aquatic sciences. Our results underscore the need for increased transdisciplinary communication and information exchange between the aquatic sciences and medical fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie J. Chan
- Department of Human Developmental and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA;
| | - Veronica I. Nutting
- Department of Computer Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA;
| | - Talia A. Natterson
- Crossroads School for Arts and Sciences, 1714 21st Street, Santa Monica, CA 90404, USA;
| | - Barbara N. Horowitz
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
- Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-310-413-8131
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20
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Adjimann TS, Argañaraz CV, Soiza-Reilly M. Serotonin-related rodent models of early-life exposure relevant for neurodevelopmental vulnerability to psychiatric disorders. Transl Psychiatry 2021; 11:280. [PMID: 33976122 PMCID: PMC8113523 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-021-01388-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Revised: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Mental disorders including depression and anxiety are continuously rising their prevalence across the globe. Early-life experience of individuals emerges as a main risk factor contributing to the developmental vulnerability to psychiatric disorders. That is, perturbing environmental conditions during neurodevelopmental stages can have detrimental effects on adult mood and emotional responses. However, the possible maladaptive neural mechanisms contributing to such psychopathological phenomenon still remain poorly understood. In this review, we explore preclinical rodent models of developmental vulnerability to psychiatric disorders, focusing on the impact of early-life environmental perturbations on behavioral aspects relevant to stress-related and psychiatric disorders. We limit our analysis to well-established models in which alterations in the serotonin (5-HT) system appear to have a crucial role in the pathophysiological mechanisms. We analyze long-term behavioral outcomes produced by early-life exposures to stress and psychotropic drugs such as the selective 5-HT reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants or the anticonvulsant valproic acid (VPA). We perform a comparative analysis, identifying differences and commonalities in the behavioral effects produced in these models. Furthermore, this review discusses recent advances on neurodevelopmental substrates engaged in these behavioral effects, emphasizing the possible existence of maladaptive mechanisms that could be shared by the different models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamara S. Adjimann
- grid.7345.50000 0001 0056 1981Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Carla V. Argañaraz
- grid.7345.50000 0001 0056 1981Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mariano Soiza-Reilly
- Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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21
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Burstein O, Simon N, Simchon-Tenenbaum Y, Rehavi M, Franko M, Shamir A, Doron R. Moderation of the transgenerational transference of antenatal stress-induced anxiety. Transl Psychiatry 2021; 11:268. [PMID: 33947833 PMCID: PMC8094124 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-021-01383-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2020] [Revised: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Maternal stress has debilitating implications for both mother and child, including increased risk for anxiety. The current COVID-19 pandemic escalates these phenomena, thus, urging the need to further explore and validate feasible therapeutic options. Unlike the protracted nature of clinical studies, animal models could offer swift evidence. Prominent candidates for treatment are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) to the mother, that putatively accommodate maternal functioning, and, thereby, also protect the child. However, SSRIs might have deleterious effects. It is important to assess whether SSRIs and other pharmacotherapies can moderate the transference of anxiety by soothing maternal anxiety and to examine the extent of offspring's exposure to the drugs via lactation. To our knowledge, the possibility that antenatal stress exacerbates lactation-driven exposure to SSRIs has not been tested yet. Thirty ICR-outbred female mice were exposed to stress during gestation and subsequently administered with either the SSRI, escitalopram, or the novel herbal candidate, shan-zha, during lactation. Upon weaning, both dams' and pups' anxiety-like behavior and serum escitalopram levels were assessed. The major findings of the current study show that both agents moderated the antenatal stress-induced transgenerational transference of anxiety by ameliorating dams' anxiety. Interestingly though, pups' exposure to escitalopram via lactation was exacerbated by antenatal stress. The latter finding provides a significant insight into the mechanism of lactation-driven exposure to xenobiotics and calls for a further consideration vis-à-vis the administration of other drugs during breastfeeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Or Burstein
- Department of Psychology, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Noam Simon
- School of Behavioral Science, The Academic College of Tel Aviv-Yaffo, Tel Aviv-Yaffo, Israel
| | - Yaarit Simchon-Tenenbaum
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
- Dr. Miriam and Sheldon G. Adelson Center for the Biology of Addictive Diseases, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Moshe Rehavi
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
- Dr. Miriam and Sheldon G. Adelson Center for the Biology of Addictive Diseases, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Motty Franko
- Department of Psychology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er-Sheva, Israel
- Department of Education and Psychology, The Open University of Israel, Raanana, Israel
| | - Alon Shamir
- Faculty of Medicine, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
- Mazor Mental Health Center, Akko, Israel
| | - Ravid Doron
- Department of Education and Psychology, The Open University of Israel, Raanana, Israel.
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22
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Bashiri H, Houwing DJ, Homberg JR, Salari AA. The combination of fluoxetine and environmental enrichment reduces postpartum stress-related behaviors through the oxytocinergic system and HPA axis in mice. Sci Rep 2021; 11:8518. [PMID: 33875712 PMCID: PMC8055994 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-87800-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Gestational stress can increase postpartum depression in women. To treat maternal depression, fluoxetine (FLX) is most commonly prescribed. While FLX may be effective for the mother, at high doses it may have adverse effects on the fetus. As environmental enrichment (EE) can reduce maternal stress effects, we hypothesized that a subthreshold dose of FLX increases the impact of EE to reduce anxiety and depression-like behavior in postpartum dams exposed to gestational stress. We evaluated this hypothesis in mice and to assess underlying mechanisms we additionally measured hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function and brain levels of the hormone oxytocin, which are thought to be implicated in postpartum depression. Gestational stress increased anxiety- and depression-like behavior in postpartum dams. This was accompanied by an increase in HPA axis function and a decrease in whole-brain oxytocin levels in dams. A combination of FLX and EE remediated the behavioral, HPA axis and oxytocin changes induced by gestational stress. Central administration of an oxytocin receptor antagonist prevented the remediating effect of FLX + EE, indicating that brain oxytocin contributes to the effect of FLX + EE. These findings suggest that oxytocin is causally involved in FLX + EE mediated remediation of postpartum stress-related behaviors, and HPA axis function in postpartum dams.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamideh Bashiri
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
- Sirjan School of Medical Sciences, Sirjan, Iran
| | - Danielle J Houwing
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Center for Medical Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Judith R Homberg
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Center for Medical Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Ali-Akbar Salari
- Salari Institute of Cognitive and Behavioral Disorders (SICBD), Karaj, Alborz, Iran.
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Chen MX, Cheng S, Lei L, Zhang XF, Liu Q, Lin A, Wallis CU, Lukowicz MJ, Sham PC, Li Q, Ao LJ. The effects of maternal SSRI exposure on the serotonin system, prefrontal protein expression and behavioral development in male and female offspring rats. Neurochem Int 2021; 146:105041. [PMID: 33836218 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2021.105041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Revised: 03/21/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Fluoxetine (FLX), a commonly used selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, is often used to treat depression during pregnancy. However, prenatal exposure to FLX has been associated with a series of neuropsychiatric illnesses. The use of a rodent model can provide a clear indication as to whether prenatal exposure to SSRIs, independent of maternal psychiatric disorders or genetic syndromes, can cause long-term behavioral abnormalities in offspring. Thus, the present study aimed to explore whether prenatal FLX exposure causes long-term neurobehavioral effects, and identify the underlying mechanism between FLX and abnormal behaviors. In our study, 12/mg/kg/day of FLX or equal normal saline (NS) was administered to pregnant Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats (FLX = 30, NS = 27) on gestation day 11 till birth. We assessed the physical development and behavior of offspring, and in vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) was conducted to quantify biochemical alterations in the prefrontal cortex (PFC). Ex vivo measurements of brain serotonin level and a proteomic analysis were also undertaken. Our results showed that the offspring (male offspring in particular) of fluoxetine exposed mothers showed delayed physical development, increased anxiety-like behavior, and impaired social interaction. Moreover, down-regulation of 5-HT and SERT expression were identified in the PFC. We also found that prenatal FLX exposure significantly decreased NAA/tCr with 1H-MRS in the PFC of offspring. Finally, a proteomic study revealed sex-dependent differential protein expression. These findings may have translational importance suggesting that using SSRI medication alone in pregnant mothers may result in developmental delay in their offspring. Our results also help guide the choice of outcome measures in identifying of molecular and developmental mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mo Xian Chen
- School of Rehabilitation, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Shu Cheng
- Department of Rehabilitation, China Resources & WISCO General Hospital, Wuhan, China
| | - Lei Lei
- Rehabilitation Medicine Department, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Tai Ping Road, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
| | - Xiao Fan Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry, Tongji Hospital of Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), China
| | - Qiang Liu
- Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China
| | - Aijin Lin
- School of Rehabilitation, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | | | | | - Pak C Sham
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China; State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China; Centre for Genomic Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China
| | - Qi Li
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China; State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China.
| | - Li Juan Ao
- School of Rehabilitation, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China.
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24
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Hutchison SM, Mâsse LC, Pawluski JL, Oberlander TF. Perinatal selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) and other antidepressant exposure effects on anxiety and depressive behaviors in offspring: A review of findings in humans and rodent models. Reprod Toxicol 2021; 99:80-95. [DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2020.11.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2020] [Revised: 11/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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25
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Sylte OC, Johansen JS, Heinla I, Houwing DJ, Olivier JDA, Heijkoop R, Snoeren EMS. Effects of perinatal fluoxetine exposure on novelty-induced social and non-social investigation behaviors in a seminatural environment. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2021; 238:3653-3667. [PMID: 34557946 PMCID: PMC8629781 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-021-05984-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are increasingly prescribed as medication for various affective disorders during pregnancy. SSRIs cross the placenta and affect serotonergic neurotransmission in the fetus, but the neurobehavioral consequences for the offspring remain largely unclear. Recent rodent research has linked perinatal SSRI exposure to alterations in both social and non-social aspects of behavior. However, this research has mainly focused on behavior within simplified environments. The current study investigates the effects of perinatal SSRI exposure on social and non-social investigation behaviors of adult rat offspring upon introduction to a novel seminatural environment with unknown conspecifics. During the perinatal period (gestational day 1 until postnatal day 21), rat dams received daily treatment with either an SSRI (fluoxetine, 10 mg/kg) or vehicle. Adult male and female offspring were observed within the first hour after introduction to a seminatural environment. The results showed that perinatal fluoxetine exposure altered aspects of non-social investigation behaviors, while not altering social investigation behaviors. More specifically, both fluoxetine-exposed males and females spent more total time on locomotor activity than controls. Furthermore, fluoxetine-exposed females spent less time exploring objects and specific elements in the environment. The data suggest that perinatal exposure to SSRIs leads to a quicker, less detailed investigation strategy in novel environments and that the alteration is mostly pronounced in females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ole Christian Sylte
- grid.10919.300000000122595234Department of Psychology, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, 9037 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Jesper Solheim Johansen
- grid.10919.300000000122595234Department of Psychology, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, 9037 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Indrek Heinla
- grid.10919.300000000122595234Department of Psychology, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, 9037 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Danielle J. Houwing
- grid.10919.300000000122595234Department of Psychology, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, 9037 Tromsø, Norway ,grid.4830.f0000 0004 0407 1981Department of Neurobiology, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Jocelien D. A. Olivier
- grid.4830.f0000 0004 0407 1981Department of Neurobiology, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Roy Heijkoop
- grid.10919.300000000122595234Department of Psychology, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, 9037 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Eelke M. S. Snoeren
- grid.10919.300000000122595234Department of Psychology, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, 9037 Tromsø, Norway ,Regional Health Authority of North Norway, Bodø, Norway
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26
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Laureano-Melo R, Dos-Santos RC, da Conceição RR, de Souza JS, da Silva Lau R, da Silva Souza Silva S, Marinho BG, Giannocco G, Ahmed RG, da Silva Côrtes W. Perinatal fluoxetine treatment promotes long-term behavioral changes in adult mice. Metab Brain Dis 2020; 35:1341-1351. [PMID: 32827287 DOI: 10.1007/s11011-020-00606-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Accepted: 08/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Serotonin exerts a significant role in the mammalian central nervous system embryogenesis and brain ontogeny. Therefore, we investigate the effect of perinatal fluoxetine (FLX), a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, administration on the behavioral expression of adult male Swiss mice. For this purpose, two groups (n = 6 each, and ~ 35 g) of pregnant female Swiss mice were mated. Their offspring were treated with FLX (10 mg/Kg, s.c.) from postnatal day (PND) 5 to 15. At PND 16, one male puppy of each litter was euthanized, and the hippocampus was dissected for RNA analysis. At 70 days of life, the male offspring underwent a behavioral assessment in the open field, object recognition task, light-dark box, tail suspension and rotarod test. According to our results, the programmed animals had a decrease in TPH2, 5HT1a, SERT, BDNF, and LMX1B expression. Also, it was observed less time of immobility in tail suspension test and higher grooming time in the open field test. In the light-dark box test, the FLX-treated offspring had less time in the light side than control. We also observed a low cognitive performance in the object recognition task and poor motor skill learning in the rotarod test. These findings suggest that programming with FLX during the neonatal period alters a hippocampal serotonergic system, promoting anxiety and antidepressant behavior in adults, as well as a low mnemonic capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Laureano-Melo
- Multicenter Graduate Program in Physiological Sciences, Department of Physiological Sciences, Institute of Health and Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Seropedica, Brazil.
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Barra Mansa University Center, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| | - Raoni Conceição Dos-Santos
- Multicenter Graduate Program in Physiological Sciences, Department of Physiological Sciences, Institute of Health and Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Seropedica, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Rodrigues da Conceição
- Molecular and Translational Endocrinology Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Janaina Sena de Souza
- Molecular and Translational Endocrinology Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Raphael da Silva Lau
- Multicenter Graduate Program in Physiological Sciences, Department of Physiological Sciences, Institute of Health and Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Seropedica, Brazil
| | - Samantha da Silva Souza Silva
- Multicenter Graduate Program in Physiological Sciences, Department of Physiological Sciences, Institute of Health and Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Seropedica, Brazil
| | - Bruno Guimarães Marinho
- Multicenter Graduate Program in Physiological Sciences, Department of Physiological Sciences, Institute of Health and Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Seropedica, Brazil
| | - Gisele Giannocco
- Molecular and Translational Endocrinology Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - R G Ahmed
- Division of Anatomy and Embryology, Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, Egypt
| | - Wellington da Silva Côrtes
- Multicenter Graduate Program in Physiological Sciences, Department of Physiological Sciences, Institute of Health and Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Seropedica, Brazil
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27
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Long-term effects of pre-gestational stress and perinatal venlafaxine treatment on neurobehavioral development of female offspring. Behav Brain Res 2020; 398:112944. [PMID: 33017639 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2020.112944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2020] [Revised: 09/24/2020] [Accepted: 09/26/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Preclinical studies suggest that stress-related disorders even prior gestation can cause long-term changes at the level of neurobehavioral adaptations. Therefore, it is critical to consider undergoing antidepressant therapy which could reverse the negative consequences in the offspring. Venlafaxine is widely used in clinical practice; however insufficient amount of well-controlled studies verified the safety of venlafaxine therapy during gestation and lactation. The aim of this work was to investigate the effects of perinatal venlafaxine therapy on selected neurobehavioral variables in mothers and their female offspring using a model of maternal adversity. Pre-gestational stressed and non-stressed Wistar rat dams were treated with either venlafaxine (10 mg/kg/day) or vehicle during pregnancy and lactation. We have shown that pre-gestational stress decreased the number of pups with a significant reduction in the number of males but not females. Furthermore, we found that offspring of stressed and treated mothers exhibited anxiogenic behavior in juvenile and adolescent age. However, during adulthood pre-gestational stress significantly increased anxiety-like behavior of female, with venlafaxine treatment normalizing the state to control levels. Additionally, we found that even maternal stress prior gestation can have long-term impact on adult number of hippocampal immature neurons of the female offspring. A number of questions related to the best treatment options for maternal depression still remains, however present data may provide greater insight into the possible outcomes associated with perinatal venlafaxine therapy.
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Hegstad J, Huijgens PT, Houwing DJ, Olivier JDA, Heijkoop R, Snoeren EMS. Female rat sexual behavior is unaffected by perinatal fluoxetine exposure. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2020; 120:104796. [PMID: 32711369 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2020.104796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2020] [Revised: 07/01/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Serotonin plays an important role in adult female sexual behavior, however little is known about the influence of serotonin during early development on sexual functioning in adulthood. During early development, serotonin acts as neurotrophic factor, while it functions as a modulatory neurotransmitter in adulthood. The occurrence of serotonin release, could thus have different effects on behavioral outcomes, depending on the developmental period in which serotonin is released. Because serotonin is involved in the development of the HPG axis which is required for puberty establishment, serotonin could also alter expression patterns of for instance the estrogen receptor ɑ (ERɑ). The aim of our study was to investigate the effects of increased serotonin levels during early development on adult female rat sexual behavior during the full behavioral estrus in a seminatural environment. To do so, rats were perinatally exposed with the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) fluoxetine (10 mg/kg FLX) and sexual performance was tested during adulthood. All facets of female sexual behavior between the first and last lordosis (behavioral estrus), and within each copulation bout of the behavioral estrus were analyzed. Besides the length and onset of the behavioral estrus and the sexual behaviors patterns, other social and conflict behavior were also investigated. In addition, we studied the effects of perinatal FLX exposure on ERɑ expression patterns in the medial preoptic nucleus, ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus, medial amygdala, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, and the dorsal raphé nucleus. The results showed that perinatal fluoxetine exposure has no effect on adult female sexual behavior. The behavioral estrus of FLX-females had the same length and pattern as CTR-females. In addition, FLX- and CTR-females showed the same amount of paracopulatory behavior and lordosis, both during the full behavioral estrus and the "most active bout". Furthermore, no differences were found in the display of social and conflict behaviors, nor in ERɑ expression patterns in the brain. We conclude that increases in serotonin levels during early development do not have long-term consequences for female sexual behavior in adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Hegstad
- Department of Psychology, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Patty T Huijgens
- Department of Psychology, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Danielle J Houwing
- Department of Psychology, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway; Department of Neurobiology, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Jocelien D A Olivier
- Department of Neurobiology, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Roy Heijkoop
- Department of Psychology, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Eelke M S Snoeren
- Department of Psychology, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway; Regional Health Authority of North Norway, Norway.
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29
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Houwing DJ, Schuttel K, Struik EL, Arling C, Ramsteijn AS, Heinla I, Olivier JDA. Perinatal fluoxetine treatment and dams' early life stress history alter affective behavior in rat offspring depending on serotonin transporter genotype and sex. Behav Brain Res 2020; 392:112657. [PMID: 32339551 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2020.112657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2019] [Revised: 04/08/2020] [Accepted: 04/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Many women diagnosed with a major depression continue or initiate antidepressant treatment during pregnancy. Both maternal stress and selective serotonin inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant treatment during pregnancy have been associated with changes in offspring behavior, including increased anxiety and depressive-like behavior. Our aim was to investigate the effects of the SSRI fluoxetine (FLX), with and without the presence of a maternal depression, on affective behavior in male and female rat offspring. As reduced serotonin transporter (SERT) availability has been associated with altered behavioral outcome, both offspring with normal (SERT+/+) and reduced (SERT+/-) SERT expression were included. For our animal model of maternal depression, SERT+/- dams exposed to early life stress were used. Perinatal FLX treatment and early life stress in dams (ELSD) had sex- and genotype-specific effects on affective behavior in the offspring. In female offspring, perinatal FLX exposure interacted with SERT genotype to increase anxiety and depressive-like behavior in SERT+/+, but not SERT+/-, females. In male offspring, ELSD reduced anxiety and interacted with SERT genotype to decrease depressive-like behavior in SERT+/-, but not SERT+/+, males. Altogether, SERT+/+ female offspring appear to be more sensitive than SERT+/- females to the effects of perinatal FLX exposure, while SERT+/- male offspring appear more sensitive than SERT+/+ males to the effects of ELSD on affective behavior. Our data suggest a role for offspring SERT genotype and sex in FLX and ELSD-induced effects on affective behavior, thereby contributing to our understanding of the effects of perinatal SSRI treatment on offspring behavior later in life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle J Houwing
- Department of Neurobiology, GELIFES, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Kirsten Schuttel
- Department of Neurobiology, GELIFES, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Eline L Struik
- Department of Neurobiology, GELIFES, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Chantal Arling
- Department of Neurobiology, GELIFES, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Anouschka S Ramsteijn
- Department of Neurobiology, GELIFES, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - I Heinla
- Department of Psychology, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Hansine Hansens veg 18, 9019 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Jocelien D A Olivier
- Department of Neurobiology, GELIFES, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands.
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30
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Hanswijk SI, Spoelder M, Shan L, Verheij MMM, Muilwijk OG, Li W, Liu C, Kolk SM, Homberg JR. Gestational Factors throughout Fetal Neurodevelopment: The Serotonin Link. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E5850. [PMID: 32824000 PMCID: PMC7461571 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21165850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2020] [Revised: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Serotonin (5-HT) is a critical player in brain development and neuropsychiatric disorders. Fetal 5-HT levels can be influenced by several gestational factors, such as maternal genotype, diet, stress, medication, and immune activation. In this review, addressing both human and animal studies, we discuss how these gestational factors affect placental and fetal brain 5-HT levels, leading to changes in brain structure and function and behavior. We conclude that gestational factors are able to interact and thereby amplify or counteract each other's impact on the fetal 5-HT-ergic system. We, therefore, argue that beyond the understanding of how single gestational factors affect 5-HT-ergic brain development and behavior in offspring, it is critical to elucidate the consequences of interacting factors. Moreover, we describe how each gestational factor is able to alter the 5-HT-ergic influence on the thalamocortical- and prefrontal-limbic circuitry and the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical-axis. These alterations have been associated with risks to develop attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorders, depression, and/or anxiety. Consequently, the manipulation of gestational factors may be used to combat pregnancy-related risks for neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina I. Hanswijk
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, 6525 EN Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (S.I.H.); (M.S.); (M.M.M.V.); (O.G.M.)
| | - Marcia Spoelder
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, 6525 EN Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (S.I.H.); (M.S.); (M.M.M.V.); (O.G.M.)
| | - Ling Shan
- Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, an Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, 1105 BA Amsterdam, The Netherlands;
| | - Michel M. M. Verheij
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, 6525 EN Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (S.I.H.); (M.S.); (M.M.M.V.); (O.G.M.)
| | - Otto G. Muilwijk
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, 6525 EN Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (S.I.H.); (M.S.); (M.M.M.V.); (O.G.M.)
| | - Weizhuo Li
- College of Medical Laboratory, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China; (W.L.); (C.L.)
| | - Chunqing Liu
- College of Medical Laboratory, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China; (W.L.); (C.L.)
| | - Sharon M. Kolk
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands;
| | - Judith R. Homberg
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, 6525 EN Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (S.I.H.); (M.S.); (M.M.M.V.); (O.G.M.)
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31
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Perinatal selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor exposure and behavioral outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analyses of animal studies. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 114:53-69. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2019] [Revised: 03/29/2020] [Accepted: 04/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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Maloney SE, Rogers CE, Constantino JN. Antidepressants, Pregnancy, and Autism: Setting the Record(s) Straight. Am J Psychiatry 2020; 177:479-481. [PMID: 32475141 DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2020.20040418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Susan E Maloney
- Department of Psychiatry, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center (Maloney, Rogers, Constantino), and Department of Pediatrics (Rogers, Constantino), Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis
| | - Cynthia E Rogers
- Department of Psychiatry, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center (Maloney, Rogers, Constantino), and Department of Pediatrics (Rogers, Constantino), Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis
| | - John N Constantino
- Department of Psychiatry, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center (Maloney, Rogers, Constantino), and Department of Pediatrics (Rogers, Constantino), Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis
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33
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Heinla I, Heijkoop R, Houwing DJ, Olivier JDA, Snoeren EMS. Third-party prosocial behavior in adult female rats is impaired after perinatal fluoxetine exposure. Physiol Behav 2020; 222:112899. [PMID: 32348809 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2020.112899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2019] [Revised: 03/27/2020] [Accepted: 03/27/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
SSRIs are commonly used to treat pregnant women with depression. However, SSRIs can cross the placenta and affect the development of the fetus. The effects of perinatal SSRI exposure, and especially the effects on social behavior, are still incompletely documented. This study first aims to investigate whether rats show prosocial behavior in the form of consolation behavior. Secondly, it aims to investigate whether perinatal SSRI exposure affects this prosocial behavior. At last, we investigate whether the behavior changed after the rats had been exposed to an additional white-noise stressor. Rat dams received 10 mg/kg/d fluoxetine (FLX) or vehicle (CTR) via oral gavage from gestational day 1 until postnatal day 21. At adulthood, the rat offspring were housed in four cohorts of 4 females and 4 males in a seminatural environment. As prosocial behaviors are more prominent after stressful situations, we investigated the behavioral response of rats immediately after natural aggressive encounters (fights). Additionally, we studied whether a stressful white-noise exposure would alter this response to the aggressive encounters. Our study indicates that CTR-female rats are able to show third party prosocial behavior in response to witnessing aggressive encounters between conspecifics in a seminatural environment. In addition, we showed that perinatal FLX exposure impairs the display of prosocial behavior in female rats. Moreover, we found no signs of prosocial behavior in CTR- and FLX-males after natural aggressive encounters. After white-noise exposure the effects in third party prosocial behavior of CTR-females ceased to exist. We conclude that female rats are able to show prosocial behavior, possibly in the form of consolation behavior. In addition, the negative effects of perinatal fluoxetine exposure on prosocial behavior could provide additional evidence that SSRI treatment during pregnancy could contribute to the risk for social impairments in the offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Indrek Heinla
- Department of Psychology, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Norway
| | - Roy Heijkoop
- Department of Psychology, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Norway
| | - Danielle J Houwing
- Department of Psychology, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Norway; Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Jocelien D A Olivier
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Eelke M S Snoeren
- Department of Psychology, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Norway; Regional Health Authority of North Norway.
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Zhong X, Harris G, Smirnova L, Zufferey V, Sá RDCDSE, Baldino Russo F, Baleeiro Beltrao Braga PC, Chesnut M, Zurich MG, Hogberg HT, Hartung T, Pamies D. Antidepressant Paroxetine Exerts Developmental Neurotoxicity in an iPSC-Derived 3D Human Brain Model. Front Cell Neurosci 2020; 14:25. [PMID: 32153365 PMCID: PMC7047331 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2020.00025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2019] [Accepted: 01/28/2020] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are frequently used to treat depression during pregnancy. Various concerns have been raised about the possible effects of these drugs on fetal development. Current developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) testing conducted in rodents is expensive, time-consuming, and does not necessarily represent human pathophysiology. A human, in vitro testing battery to cover key events of brain development, could potentially overcome these challenges. In this study, we assess the DNT of paroxetine—a widely used SSRI which has shown contradictory evidence regarding effects on human brain development using a versatile, organotypic human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived brain model (BrainSpheres). At therapeutic blood concentrations, which lie between 20 and 60 ng/ml, Paroxetine led to an 80% decrease in the expression of synaptic markers, a 60% decrease in neurite outgrowth and a 40–75% decrease in the overall oligodendrocyte cell population, compared to controls. These results were consistently shown in two different iPSC lines and indicate that relevant therapeutic concentrations of Paroxetine induce brain cell development abnormalities which could lead to adverse effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiali Zhong
- Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT), Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food, Nutrition and Health, Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Georgina Harris
- Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT), Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Lena Smirnova
- Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT), Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Valentin Zufferey
- Department of Physiology, Lausanne and Swiss Centre for Applied Human Toxicology (SCAHT), University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Fabiele Baldino Russo
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Patricia Cristina Baleeiro Beltrao Braga
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.,Department of Obstetrics, School of Arts Sciences and Humanities, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Megan Chesnut
- Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT), Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Marie-Gabrielle Zurich
- Department of Physiology, Lausanne and Swiss Centre for Applied Human Toxicology (SCAHT), University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Helena T Hogberg
- Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT), Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Thomas Hartung
- Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT), Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States.,CAAT-Europe, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - David Pamies
- Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT), Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States.,Department of Physiology, Lausanne and Swiss Centre for Applied Human Toxicology (SCAHT), University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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Houwing DJ, de Waard J, Ramsteijn AS, Woelders T, de Boer SF, Wams EJ, Olivier JDA. Perinatal fluoxetine exposure disrupts the circadian response to a phase-shifting challenge in female rats. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2020; 237:2555-2568. [PMID: 32533210 PMCID: PMC7351858 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-020-05556-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2019] [Accepted: 05/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants are increasingly prescribed during pregnancy. Changes in serotonergic signaling during human fetal development have been associated with changes in brain development and with changes in affective behavior in adulthood. The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) is known to be modulated by serotonin and it is therefore assumed that SSRIs may affect circadian rhythms. However, effects of perinatal SSRI treatment on circadian system functioning in the offspring are largely unknown. OBJECTIVE Our aim was to investigate the effects of perinatal exposure to the SSRI fluoxetine (FLX) on circadian behavior, affective behavior, and 5-HT1A receptor sensitivity in female rats. In addition, we studied the expression of clock genes and the 5-HT1A receptor in the SCN, as they are potentially involved in underlying mechanisms contributing to changes in circadian rhythms. RESULTS Perinatal FLX exposure shortened the free-running tau in response to the 5-HT1A/7 agonist 8-OH-DPAT. However, FLX exposure did not alter anxiety, stress coping, and 5-HT1A receptor sensitivity. No differences were found in 5-HT1A receptor and clock genes Per1, Per2, Cry1, and Cry2 SCN gene expression. CONCLUSIONS Perinatal FLX exposure altered the response to a phase-shifting challenge in female rats, whether this may pose health risks remains to be investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle J Houwing
- Department of Neurobiology, unit Behavioral Neuroscience, GELIFES, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Jolien de Waard
- Department of Neurobiology, unit Behavioral Neuroscience, GELIFES, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Anouschka S Ramsteijn
- Department of Neurobiology, unit Behavioral Neuroscience, GELIFES, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Tom Woelders
- Department of Neurobiology, unit Chronobiology, GELIFES, Univ. Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Sietse F de Boer
- Department of Neurobiology, unit Behavioral Neuroscience, GELIFES, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Emma J Wams
- Department of Neurobiology, unit Behavioral Neuroscience, GELIFES, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Jocelien D A Olivier
- Department of Neurobiology, unit Behavioral Neuroscience, GELIFES, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG, Groningen, the Netherlands.
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36
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Perinatal fluoxetine treatment and dams' early life stress history have opposite effects on aggressive behavior while having little impact on sexual behavior of male rat offspring. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2020; 237:2589-2600. [PMID: 32676774 PMCID: PMC7501125 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-020-05535-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2019] [Accepted: 04/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Many depressed women continue antidepressant treatment during pregnancy. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) treatment during pregnancy increases the risk for abnormal social development of the child, including increased aggressive or defiant behavior, with unknown effects on sexual behavior. OBJECTIVES Our aim was to investigate the effects of perinatal SSRI treatment and maternal depression, both separately and combined, on aggressive and sexual behavior in male rat offspring. METHODS Heterozygous serotonin transporter (SERT± ) knockout dams exposed to early life stress (ELSD) were used as an animal model of maternal depression. Early life stress consisted of separating litters from their mother for 6 h a day on postnatal day (PND)2-15, resulting in a depressive-like phenotype in adulthood. Depressive-like dams were treated with fluoxetine (FLX, 10 mg/kg) or vehicle throughout pregnancy and lactation (gestational day 1 until PND 21). Male offspring were tested for aggressive and sexual behavior in adulthood. As lifelong reductions in SERT expression are known to alter behavioral outcome, offspring with normal (SERT+/+) and reduced (SERT± ) SERT expression were assessed. RESULTS Perinatal FLX treatment reduced offensive behavior and the number of animals attacking and increased the latency to attack, especially in SERT+/+ offspring. Perinatal FLX treatment reduced the mounting frequency in SERT+/+ offspring. ELSD increased offensive behavior, without affecting sexual behavior in SERT± offspring. CONCLUSIONS Overall, our research demonstrates that perinatal FLX treatment and ELSD have opposite effects on aggressive behavior, with little impact on sexual behavior of male offspring.
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Bond C, Johnson J, Chaudhary V, McCarthy E, McWhorter M, Woehrle N. Perinatal fluoxetine exposure results in social deficits and reduced monoamine oxidase gene expression in mice. Brain Res 2020; 1727:146282. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2019.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2019] [Revised: 05/28/2019] [Accepted: 06/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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Edvinsson Å, Hellgren C, Kunovac Kallak T, Åkerud H, Skalkidou A, Stener-Victorin E, Fornes R, Spigset O, Lager S, Olivier J, Sundström-Poromaa I. The effect of antenatal depression and antidepressant treatment on placental tissue: a protein-validated gene expression study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2019; 19:479. [PMID: 31805950 PMCID: PMC6896358 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-019-2586-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2019] [Accepted: 11/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Antenatal depression affects 10–20% of pregnant women. Around 2–4% of European pregnant women use antidepressant treatment, most commonly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Poor pregnancy outcomes, such as preterm birth and low birth weight, have been described in women with antenatal depression and in pregnant women on SSRI treatment. However, the effects of antenatal depression and antidepressant treatment on the placenta are largely unknown. The aim of this work was to compare placental gene and protein expression in healthy women, women with untreated antenatal depression and women on antidepressant treatment during pregnancy. Methods Placental samples from 47 controls, 25 depressed and 45 SSRI-treated women were analysed by means of qPCR using custom-designed TaqMan low-density arrays (TLDAs) for 44 genes previously known to be involved in the pathophysiology of depression, and expressed in the placenta. Moreover, placental protein expression was determined by means of immunohistochemistry in 37 healthy controls, 13 women with untreated depression and 21 women on antidepressant treatment. Statistical comparisons between groups were performed by one-way ANOVA or the Kruskal–Wallis test. Results Nominally significant findings were noted for HTR1A and NPY2R, where women with untreated depression displayed higher gene expression than healthy controls (p < 0.05), whereas women on antidepressant treatment had similar expression as healthy controls. The protein expression analyses revealed higher expression of HTR1A in placentas from women on antidepressant treatment, than in placentas from healthy controls (p < 0.05). Conclusion The differentially expressed HTR1A, both at the gene and the protein level that was revealed in this study, suggests the involvement of HTR1A in the effect of antenatal depression on biological mechanisms in the placenta. More research is needed to elucidate the role of depression and antidepressant treatment on the placenta, and, further, the effect on the fetus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Åsa Edvinsson
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, 751 85, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Charlotte Hellgren
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, 751 85, Uppsala, Sweden
| | | | - Helena Åkerud
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, 751 85, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Alkistis Skalkidou
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, 751 85, Uppsala, Sweden
| | | | - Romina Fornes
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institute, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Olav Spigset
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, St. Olav University Hospital, 7006, Trondheim, Norway.,Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Susanne Lager
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, 751 85, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jocelien Olivier
- Neurobiology, Unit Behavioral Neuroscience, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, 9747, AG, Groningen, The Netherlands
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Grieb ZA, Ragan CM. The effects of perinatal SSRI exposure on anxious behavior and neurobiology in rodent and human offspring. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2019; 29:1169-1184. [PMID: 31427116 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2019.07.239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2019] [Revised: 07/10/2019] [Accepted: 07/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
While the postpartum period is typically associated with increased positive affect, many women will develop a depressive- or anxiety-related disorder during this time, which can degrade the mother-infant bond and lead to detrimental consequences for the infant. Given the potential for negative consequences, effective treatments have been critical, with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) being the most commonly-prescribed pharmaceutical agents to treat postpartum depression and anxiety. However, SSRIs can readily cross the placenta and are present in breast milk, so they might, therefore, unintentionally interact with the developing fetus/infant. There is already experimental evidence that perinatal SSRI exposure has a number of long-term effects on offspring, but this review focuses on the current literature examining the timing and consequences of perinatal SSRI exposure specifically on anxiety-like behaviors in rodents and humans, with an emphasis on the anxiety-related brain regions of the amygdala and hippocampus. This review also discusses discrepancies between the rodent and human literatures and how they might inform future studies. Finally, some key factors to consider when examining the role of perinatal SSRIs on offspring anxiety will be discussed, such as the duration of SSRI exposure and the potential neuroprotective effects of SSRIs. Given the extensive prescribing of SSRIs, the potential health consequences of perinatal SSRI exposure, and the discrepancies in the literature, it will be necessary to critically examine the factors underlying offspring anxiety outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Z A Grieb
- Neuroscience Institute, 880 Petit Science Center, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, United States.
| | - C M Ragan
- Department of Psychology, Library Student Faculty Building, Room 63, Purdue University Northwest, Westville, IN 46391, United States
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ZAİMOĞLU A, AKYÜZ B, BİLGE SS. Prenatal Sitalopram Maruziyetinin Sıçanların Motor ve Kognitif Fonksiyonları Üzerine Etkisi. ACTA MEDICA ALANYA 2019. [DOI: 10.30565/medalanya.556757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
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Perinatal exposure to venlafaxine leads to lower anxiety and depression-like behavior in the adult rat offspring. Behav Pharmacol 2019; 29:445-452. [PMID: 29561291 DOI: 10.1097/fbp.0000000000000393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Depression during pregnancy and in the post-partum period is a growing health issue. Venlafaxine, a representative of serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors, is used to treat a wide spectrum of mood disorders. However, the limited number of prenatal and perinatal studies raises the question about the long-term consequences of venlafaxine therapy. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of venlafaxine exposure during pregnancy and lactation on anxiety-like and depression-like behaviors, as well as adrenocortical hormone concentrations in the adult rat offspring. For this purpose, rat dams were treated orally with venlafaxine from day 15 of gestation to postnatal day 20 at doses of 7.5, 37.5, and 75 mg/kg. Administration of venlafaxine during gestation and lactation affected anxiety-like and depression-like behaviors in adult rat offspring of both sexes. The animals exposed through their mothers to venlafaxine, particularly at the lowest and middle doses, were less anxious and less depressive in several relevant behavioral tests, which can be considered a deviation from the normal state. At clinically relevant doses, venlafaxine did not alter circulating level of corticosterone and aldosterone in the adult offspring. In general, the consequences of venlafaxine were dose dependent and more apparent in females. Together, these results suggest that prenatal and early postnatal exposure to venlafaxine may interfere with functional development of the brain, though not necessarily in a negative way.
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Codagnone MG, Stanton C, O'Mahony SM, Dinan TG, Cryan JF. Microbiota and Neurodevelopmental Trajectories: Role of Maternal and Early-Life Nutrition. ANNALS OF NUTRITION AND METABOLISM 2019; 74 Suppl 2:16-27. [PMID: 31234188 DOI: 10.1159/000499144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Pregnancy and early life are characterized by marked changes in body microbial composition. Intriguingly, these changes take place simultaneously with neurodevelopmental plasticity, suggesting a complex dialogue between the microbes that inhabit the gastrointestinal tract and the brain. The purpose of this chapter is to describe the natural trajectory of microbiota during pregnancy and early life, as well as review the literature available on its interaction with neurodevelopment. Several lines of evidence show that the gut microbiota interacts with diet, drugs and stress both prenatally and postnatally. Clinical and preclinical studies are illuminating how these disruptions result in different developmental outcomes. Understanding the role of the microbiota in neurodevelopment may lead to novel approaches to the study of the pathophysiology and treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin G Codagnone
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.,Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Catherine Stanton
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.,Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioural Science, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.,Teagasc Food Research Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, Ireland
| | - Siobhain M O'Mahony
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.,Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Timothy G Dinan
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.,Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioural Science, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - John F Cryan
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland, .,Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland,
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Barbosa Méndez S, Salazar-Juárez A. Mirtazapine attenuates anxiety- and depression-like behaviors in rats during cocaine withdrawal. J Psychopharmacol 2019; 33:589-605. [PMID: 31012359 DOI: 10.1177/0269881119840521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anxiety and depression, key symptoms of the cocaine withdrawal syndrome in human addicts, are considered the main factors that precipitate relapse in chronic cocaine addiction. Preclinical studies have found that rodents exposed to different withdrawal periods show an increase in anxiety and depressive-like behavior. Mirtazapine - a tetracyclic medication - is used primarily to treat depression and, sometimes, anxiety. It has also successfully improved withdrawal symptoms in drug-dependent patients. AIM This study sought to determine whether chronic dosing of mirtazapine during cocaine withdrawal reduced depression- and anxiety-like behaviors that characterize cocaine withdrawal in animals. METHODS Cocaine pre-treated Wistar rats were subjected to a 60-day cocaine withdrawal period during which depression- and anxiety-like behaviors were evaluated in open field tests (OFT), the elevated plus-maze (EPM), the light-dark box test (LDT), the forced swimming test (FST) and spontaneous locomotor activity (SLA). RESULTS We found that chronic dosing with different doses of mirtazapine (30 and 60 mg/kg) decreased depression- and anxiety-like behaviors induced by different doses of cocaine (10, 20 and 40 mg/kg) during the 60-day cocaine withdrawal. INTERPRETATION Our results suggest that the pharmacological effect of mirtazapine on its target sites of action (α2-adrenergic and 5-HT2A and 5-HT3 receptors) within the brain may improve depression- and anxiety-like behaviors for long periods. CONCLUSION Therefore, the findings support the use of mirtazapine as a potentially effective therapy to reduce anxiety and depressive-like behavior during cocaine withdrawal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susana Barbosa Méndez
- Laboratorio de Neurofarmacología Conductual, Microcirugía y Terapéutica Experimental, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría, cuidad de México, Mexico
| | - Alberto Salazar-Juárez
- Laboratorio de Neurofarmacología Conductual, Microcirugía y Terapéutica Experimental, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría, cuidad de México, Mexico
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Houwing DJ, Heijkoop R, Olivier JDA, Snoeren EMS. Perinatal fluoxetine exposure changes social and stress-coping behavior in adult rats housed in a seminatural environment. Neuropharmacology 2019; 151:84-97. [PMID: 30959021 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2019.03.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2018] [Revised: 03/29/2019] [Accepted: 03/30/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) during pregnancy has increased tremendously, but the consequences for the offspring remain largely unclear. Several studies have described potential effects of perinatal SSRI-exposure on neurobehavioral outcomes using simplified rodent test set-ups, however these set-ups only assess a small fraction of the behavior. For translational purposes it is important to take the environmental influences into account which children are exposed to in real life. By using a seminatural environmental set-up, this study is the first to assess behavioral outcomes in offspring exposed to perinatal SSRI exposure under seminatural circumstances. Mothers received daily the SSRI fluoxetine (FLX, 10 mg/kg p.o.) or vehicle (CTR) from gestational day 1 until postnatal day 21. To assess the effect of FLX exposure during early development, female and male offspring were behaviorally tested in the seminatural environment at adulthood. Baseline behavior was measured in addition to responses during and after stressful white-noise events. Behavior was observed on two days, day 4 on which females were sexually non-receptive, and day 7, on which females were sexual receptive. Perinatal FLX exposure reduced general activity in females and increased behavior related to a social context in both males and females. After a stressful white-noise event some behaviors switched. Whereas FLX-females switch from resting socially to resting more solitarily, FLX-males show an increase in self-grooming behavior after the stressor and showed more freezing behavior in the open area. We conclude that perinatal FLX exposure leads to alterations in social and stress-coping behaviors in adulthood, when observed in a seminatural environment. Whether these adaptations in behavior are advantageous or disadvantageous remains to be established.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle J Houwing
- Department of Psychology, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway; Department of Neurobiology, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Roy Heijkoop
- Department of Psychology, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Jocelien D A Olivier
- Department of Neurobiology, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Eelke M S Snoeren
- Department of Psychology, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway.
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Houwing DJ, Staal L, Swart JM, Ramsteijn AS, Wöhr M, de Boer SF, Olivier JDA. Subjecting Dams to Early Life Stress and Perinatal Fluoxetine Treatment Differentially Alters Social Behavior in Young and Adult Rat Offspring. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:229. [PMID: 30914920 PMCID: PMC6423179 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.00229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2018] [Accepted: 02/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Recently, the putative association between selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) exposure during pregnancy and the development of social disorders in children has gained increased attention. However, clinical studies struggle with the confounding effects of maternal depression typically co-occurring with antidepressant treatment. Furthermore, preclinical studies using an animal model of maternal depression to study effects of perinatal SSRI exposure on offspring social behavior are limited. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate effects of perinatal fluoxetine exposure on juvenile and adult social behavior in male and female rat offspring, using an animal model of maternal vulnerability. We exposed heterozygous serotonin transporter (SERT) deficient female rats to early life maternal separation stress, and used this as a model for maternal vulnerability. Control and early life stressed heterozygous serotonin transporter knockout (SERT) dams were treated with the SSRI fluoxetine or vehicle throughout gestation and lactation. Subsequently, both male and female wildtype (SERT+/+) and heterozygous (SERT+/-) rat offspring were tested for pup ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs), juvenile social play behavior and adult social interaction. Fluoxetine treatment of the dams resulted in a reduced total USV duration in pups at postnatal day 6, especially in SERT+/+ males. Perinatal fluoxetine exposure lowered social play behavior in male offspring from both control and early life stressed dams. However, in females a fluoxetine-induced reduction in juvenile play behavior was only present in offspring from control dams. Offspring genotype did not affect juvenile play behavior. Despite fluoxetine-induced behavioral effects at juvenile age, fluoxetine reduced male adult social behavior in offspring from control dams only. Effects of fluoxetine on female adult social behavior were virtually absent. Interestingly, early life stress in dams increased adult social exploration in vehicle exposed SERT+/+ female offspring and total social behavior in fluoxetine exposed adult SERT+/- male offspring. Furthermore, SERT+/- males appeared less social during adulthood compared to SERT+/+ males. Overall, the present study shows that chronic blockade of the serotonin transporter by fluoxetine during early development has a considerable impact on pup USVs, juvenile social play behavior in both male and female offspring, and to a lesser extent on male social interaction in adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle J. Houwing
- Behavioural Neuroscience Unit, Neurobiology Department, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Laura Staal
- Behavioural Neuroscience Unit, Neurobiology Department, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Judith M. Swart
- Behavioural Neuroscience Unit, Neurobiology Department, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Anouschka S. Ramsteijn
- Behavioural Neuroscience Unit, Neurobiology Department, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Markus Wöhr
- Experimental and Biological Psychology Department, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Sietse F. de Boer
- Behavioural Neuroscience Unit, Neurobiology Department, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Jocelien D. A. Olivier
- Behavioural Neuroscience Unit, Neurobiology Department, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
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Developmental outcomes after gestational antidepressant treatment with sertraline and its discontinuation in an animal model of maternal depression. Behav Brain Res 2019; 366:1-12. [PMID: 30836156 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2019.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2018] [Revised: 02/04/2019] [Accepted: 03/01/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are commonly prescribed to women before or during pregnancy to manage their depressive symptoms. However, there is still little knowledge regarding the long-term development effects of SSRI exposure for the fetus or the effects of discontinuing SSRI treatment during pregnancy. This study utilized a translational animal model of maternal depression (based on giving high levels of corticosterone (CORT, 40 mg/kg, s.c.) or vehicle (Oil) for 21 days prior to conception) to investigate the effects of sertraline (a frequently prescribed SSRI; 20 mg/kg p.o., treatment started ∼7 days prior to conception) and its discontinuation during pregnancy (on gestational day 16) compared to vehicle (water) treatment on the development of the offspring. Our results revealed that both corticosterone exposure prior to pregnancy and sertraline administration and its discontinuation during gestation had sex-specific effects on behavior in the adult offspring. In particular, pre-conceptional maternal corticosterone treatment impacted the stress response, anxiety-like behavior and cognitive performance in adult female offspring, while gestational SSRI exposure and its discontinuation compared to full-term exposure affected impulsivity in females, and exploratory behavior in males. More research is needed on the effects of exposure to antidepressant medication and its discontinuation compared to depression during pregnancy and how each impacts development to better help women make informed decisions about their medication use during pregnancy.
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Liu Q, Chen MX, Sun L, Wallis CU, Zhou JS, Ao LJ, Li Q, Sham PC. Rational use of mesenchymal stem cells in the treatment of autism spectrum disorders. World J Stem Cells 2019; 11:55-72. [PMID: 30842805 PMCID: PMC6397804 DOI: 10.4252/wjsc.v11.i2.55] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2018] [Revised: 12/30/2018] [Accepted: 01/23/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism and autism spectrum disorders (ASD) refer to a range of conditions characterized by impaired social and communication skills and repetitive behaviors caused by different combinations of genetic and environmental influences. Although the pathophysiology underlying ASD is still unclear, recent evidence suggests that immune dysregulation and neuroinflammation play a role in the etiology of ASD. In particular, there is direct evidence supporting a role for maternal immune activation during prenatal life in neurodevelopmental conditions. Currently, the available options of behavioral therapies and pharmacological and supportive nutritional treatments in ASD are only symptomatic. Given the disturbing rise in the incidence of ASD, and the fact that there is no effective pharmacological therapy for ASD, there is an urgent need for new therapeutic options. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) possess immunomodulatory properties that make them relevant to several diseases associated with inflammation and tissue damage. The paracrine regenerative mechanisms of MSCs are also suggested to be therapeutically beneficial for ASD. Thus the underlying pathology in ASD, including immune system dysregulation and inflammation, represent potential targets for MSC therapy. This review will focus on immune dysfunction in the pathogenesis of ASD and will further discuss the therapeutic potential for MSCs in mediating ASD-related immunological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Liu
- Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Mo-Xian Chen
- School of Rehabilitation, Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650500, Yunnan Province, China
| | - Lin Sun
- Department of Psychology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang 261053, Shandong Province, China
| | - Chloe U Wallis
- Medical Sciences Division, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, United Kingdom
| | - Jian-Song Zhou
- Mental Health Institute of the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, Hunan Province, China
| | - Li-Juan Ao
- School of Rehabilitation, Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650500, Yunnan Province, China
| | - Qi Li
- Department of Psychiatry, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Pak C Sham
- Department of Psychiatry, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Center for Genomic Sciences, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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Neurodevelopmental and behavioral consequences of perinatal exposure to the HIV drug efavirenz in a rodent model. Transl Psychiatry 2019; 9:84. [PMID: 30745561 PMCID: PMC6370772 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-019-0420-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2018] [Revised: 01/22/2019] [Accepted: 01/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Efavirenz is recommended as a preferred first-line drug for women of childbearing potential living with human immunodeficiency virus. Efavirenz is known for its central nervous system side effects, which are partly mediated by serotonergic actions. The neurotransmitter serotonin exerts neurotrophic effects during neurodevelopment and antenatal exposure to serotonergic agents has been linked to developmental delay. Although the teratogenic risks of efavirenz appear to be minimal, data on long-term developmental effects remain scarce. Here, we aimed to investigate the short- and long-term behavioral and neurodevelopmental effects of perinatal efavirenz exposure. We treated pregnant rats from gestation day 1 until postnatal day 7 with efavirenz (100 mg/kg) or vehicle. We measured behavioral outcomes in male offspring during the first 3 postnatal weeks, adolescence and adulthood, and conducted brain immunohistochemistry analyses after sacrifice. Perinatal efavirenz exposure resulted in reduced body weight and delayed reflex and motor development. During adulthood, we observed a decrease in the total number of cells and mature neurons in the motor cortex, as well as an increase in the number of Caspase-3-positive cells and serotonergic fibers. Together, our data show a developmental delay and persistent changes in the brain motor cortex of rats exposed to efavirenz perinatally. Because over 1 million children born annually are exposed to antiretroviral therapy, our findings underline the need for clinical studies on long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes of perinatal exposure to efavirenz.
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Millard SJ, Lum JS, Fernandez F, Weston-Green K, Newell KA. Perinatal exposure to fluoxetine increases anxiety- and depressive-like behaviours and alters glutamatergic markers in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus of male adolescent rats: A comparison between Sprague-Dawley rats and the Wistar-Kyoto rat model of depression. J Psychopharmacol 2019; 33:230-243. [PMID: 30698051 DOI: 10.1177/0269881118822141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND With approximately 10% of pregnant women prescribed antidepressant drugs for the treatment of depressive disorders, there is growing concern regarding the potential long-term effects of this exposure on offspring. Research is needed in clinically relevant models to determine the effects on offspring behaviour and associated neurobiological systems. AIM The aim of this study was to determine the effects of maternal fluoxetine treatment on anxiety-like and depressive-like behaviours in adolescent offspring as well as associated glutamatergic markers, using a clinically relevant rodent model of depression. METHODS Wistar-Kyoto (model of innate depression) and Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with fluoxetine (10 mg/kg) from gestational day 0 to postnatal day 14. Male offspring underwent behavioural testing (open field, elevated plus maze, forced swim test) at adolescence followed by quantitative immuno-detection of glutamatergic markers in the prefrontal cortex and ventral hippocampus. RESULTS Perinatal fluoxetine exposure exacerbated the anxiety-like and depressive-like phenotype in Wistar-Kyoto offspring and induced an anxiety-like and depressive-like phenotype in Sprague-Dawley offspring. Wistar-Kyoto offspring showed reductions in NMDA receptor NR1, NR2A and NR2B subunits, as well as post-synaptic density 95 (PSD-95) and metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 1 (mGluR1) in the prefrontal cortex; perinatal fluoxetine exposure further reduced NR1, NR2A, PSD-95 and mGluR1 expression in Wistar-Kyoto as well as Sprague-Dawley offspring. In the ventral hippocampus perinatal fluoxetine exposure reduced PSD-95 and increased metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 5 (mGluR5) and Homer1b/c in both Sprague-Dawley and Wistar-Kyoto strains. CONCLUSION These findings suggest that maternal fluoxetine treatment exacerbates effects of underlying maternal depression on offspring behaviour, which may be mediated through alterations in the glutamatergic system. Further research investigating how to minimise these effects, whilst ensuring optimal treatment for mothers, is essential to move the field forward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel J Millard
- 1 Molecular Horizons and School of Medicine, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
- 2 Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Jeremy S Lum
- 1 Molecular Horizons and School of Medicine, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
- 2 Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Francesca Fernandez
- 3 School of Science, Australian Catholic University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Katrina Weston-Green
- 1 Molecular Horizons and School of Medicine, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
- 2 Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Kelly A Newell
- 1 Molecular Horizons and School of Medicine, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
- 2 Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
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Glover ME, McCoy CR, Shupe EA, Unroe KA, Jackson NL, Clinton SM. Perinatal exposure to the SSRI paroxetine alters the methylome landscape of the developing dentate gyrus. Eur J Neurosci 2019; 50:1843-1870. [PMID: 30585666 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.14315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2018] [Revised: 11/28/2018] [Accepted: 12/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Evidence in humans and rodents suggests that perinatal exposure to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants can have serious long-term consequences in offspring exposed in utero or infancy via breast milk. In spite of this, there is limited knowledge of how perinatal SSRI exposure impacts brain development and adult behaviour. Children exposed to SSRIs in utero exhibit increased internalizing behaviour and abnormal social behaviour between the ages of 3 and 6, and increased risk of depression in adolescence; however, the neurobiological changes underlying this behaviour are poorly understood. In rodents, perinatal SSRI exposure perturbs hippocampal gene expression and alters adult emotional behaviour (including increased depression-like behaviour). The present study demonstrates that perinatal exposure to the SSRI paroxetine leads to DNA hypomethylation and reduces DNA methyltransferase 3a (Dnmt3a) mRNA expression in the hippocampus during the second and third weeks of life. Next-generation sequencing identified numerous differentially methylated genomic regions, including altered methylation and transcription of several dendritogenesis-related genes. We then tested the hypothesis that transiently decreasing Dnmt3a expression in the early postnatal hippocampus would mimic the behavioural effects of perinatal SSRI exposure. We found that siRNA-mediated knockdown of Dnmt3a in the dentate gyrus during the second to third week of life produced greater depression-like behaviour in adult female (but not male) offspring, akin to the behavioural consequences of perinatal SSRI exposure. Overall, these data suggest that perinatal SSRI exposure may increase depression-like behaviours, at least in part, through reduced Dnmt3a expression in the developing hippocampus.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Keaton A Unroe
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia
| | - Nateka L Jackson
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
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