Developmental outcomes after gestational antidepressant treatment with sertraline and its discontinuation in an animal model of maternal depression

Prenatal exposure to sertraline, associated or not with stress, can negatively program somatic and neurobehavioral development of female rats, and dysregulate reproductive function in adulthood

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are prescribed to pregnant women for treating mental illnesses. Among the drugs of this class, sertraline (ST) is the antidepressant therapy recommended most frequently. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the impact of gestational ST treatment on reproductive parameters and toxicological target organs of rat female offspring, as well as on somatic, reflex and neurobehavioral development, in a model of maternal adversity. Pregnant Wistar rats received vehicle (filtered water) or ST hydrochloride (20 mg/Kg/day diluted in vehicle) by oral gavage, associated or not with restraint stress for 1 h/day from gestational days 13-20. F1 female offspring was evaluated on reproductive parameters, body weight and somatic and reflex milestones from postnatal day (PND) 1. On PNDs 25 and 72, the elevated-plus-maze test was performed, while toxicological target organs were evaluated on PNDs 42 and 80. In utero exposure to ST, regardless of exposure to stress, reduced body weight at birth and affected the somatic development and estrous cycle. The absolute and relative thyroid weights were increased in Stress/ST group during puberty and adulthood, while the percentage of ovarian structures and the absolute uterine weight were altered in this group on PND 80. Prenatal exposure only to ST reduced initial body weight gain, delayed fur development and increased anxiety-like behavior on PND 25. Thus, this experimental study suggests that intrauterine exposure to ST disrupts the fetal environment and can negatively program serotonin-regulated processes. Furthermore, it impacts thyroid weight when associated with stress.

Is lactational sertraline exposure safe for maternal health and the reproductive/neurobehavioral development of the descendants? A study in rats

Although sertraline is considered one of the safest antidepressants in the lactation period, there are still few studies that assess its impact on child development. Therefore, this experimental study aimed to clarify the effect of sertraline on the neurobehavioral and reproductive development of male rats. Thus, 30 lactating rats were divided into 3 experimental groups (n = 10/group): CO- received filtered water, S10 and S20 groups that received, respectively, 10 and 20 mg/kg/day of sertraline. Treatment was performed by gavage, from postnatal days (PND) 1-20. During this period, the reflex and somatic development of rats were observed, as well as maternal behavior. On PND 21, mothers were euthanized and the organs were weighed. On PND 21, 45, and 100, one male from each litter was euthanized for histological and immunohistochemical (PCNA and WT1) analysis of the reproductive organs. The growth of body weight, the anogenital distance (AGD), the time to puberty, sperm quality, sexual behavior, neurobehavior, and natural fertility were also verified. Statistical analysis: One-way ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis test (p ≤ 0.05). The results showed that mothers in the S20 group had an increase in thyroid weight. The male offspring exposed to sertraline had lower body weight (PND 7), lower AGD (PND 7 and 14), and delay in reflex development, in addition to histological alterations in the testis (PND 21). In adulthood, sperm quality was altered, without compromising natural fertility. Therefore, the present study found important alterations in the reflex and reproductive development of male rats exposed to sertraline during lactation.

When pharmaceutical drugs become environmental pollutants: Potential neural effects and underlying mechanisms

Pharmaceutical drugs have become consumer products, with a daily use for some of them. The volume of production and consumption of drugs is such that they have become environmental pollutants. Their transfer to wastewater through urine, feces or rinsing in case of skin use, associated with partial elimination by wastewater treatment plants generalize pollution in the hydrosphere, including drinking water, sediments, soils, the food chain and plants. Here, we review the potential effects of environmental exposure to three classes of pharmaceutical drugs, i.e. antibiotics, antidepressants and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, on neurodevelopment. Experimental studies analyzing their underlying modes of action including those related to endocrine disruption, and molecular mechanisms including epigenetic modifications are presented. In addition, the contribution of brain imaging to the assessment of adverse effects of these three classes of pharmaceuticals is approached.

Exposure of pregnant rats to stress and/or sertraline: Side effects on maternal health and neurobehavioral development of male offspring

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.

Gestational buprenorphine exposure: Effects on pregnancy, development, neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome, and behavior in a translational rodent model

BACKGROUND

The opioid crisis has led to an increased number of pregnant opioid-dependent women receiving opioid-maintenance therapy (e.g. buprenorphine, BUP), but little is known about the consequences of gestational BUP exposure on pregnancy outcomes, maternal care, or offspring development.

METHODS

Our translational rodent model began BUP exposure to adult female rats (N = 30) at least 7 days before conception and continued throughout the postpartum period. Both therapeutic low-dose (BUP-LD, 0.3 mg/kg, s.c.) and overexposure high-dose (BUP-HD, 1.0 mg/kg) doses of BUP were compared to saline control. Female rats were bred in house with drug-naïve adult male rats. The day after parturition, litters were culled to 5 males/5 females and assigned randomly to various behavioral tests and assessed either neonates or adolescents. Litter characteristics, maternal caregiving, Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome (NOWS), offspring development and adolescent behaviors were evaluated.

RESULTS

BUP-LD decreased maternal care, delayed offspring development, decreased offspring body weight, length, temperature, and pain sensitivity (p's < .05). BUP-HD drastically reduced maternal care and offspring survival, altered litter characteristics, and increased NOWS (p's < .05).

CONCLUSION

These results demonstrate that the therapeutic BUP-LD in rats was relatively safe with subtle effects on maternal care and rodent offspring. However, overexposure BUP-HD in rats produced NOWS and compromised maternal caregiving as well as rodent offspring survival. More research is critical to validate the translational implication of these findings for human opioid-dependent mothers maintained on BUP-maintenance therapy.