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Fitzpatrick G, Huang Y, Qiu F, Habgood MD, Medcalf RL, Ho H, Dziegielewska KM, Saunders NR. Entry of cannabidiol into the fetal, postnatal and adult rat brain. Cell Tissue Res 2024; 396:177-195. [PMID: 38366086 PMCID: PMC11055756 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-024-03867-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
Cannabidiol is a major component of cannabis but without known psychoactive properties. A wide range of properties have been attributed to it, such as anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-cancer, anti-seizure and anxiolytic. However, being a fairly new compound in its purified form, little is known about cannabidiol brain entry, especially during development. Sprague Dawley rats at four developmental ages: embryonic day E19, postnatal day P4 and P12 and non-pregnant adult females were administered intraperitoneal cannabidiol at 10 mg/kg with [3H] labelled cannabidiol. To investigate the extent of placental transfer, the drug was injected intravenously into E19 pregnant dams. Levels of [3H]-cannabidiol in blood plasma, cerebrospinal fluid and brain were estimated by liquid scintillation counting. Plasma protein binding of cannabidiol was identified by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and its bound and unbound fractions measured by ultrafiltration. Using available RNA-sequencing datasets of E19 rat brain, choroid plexus and placenta, as well as P5 and adult brain and choroid plexus, expression of 13 main cannabidiol receptors was analysed. Results showed that cannabidiol rapidly entered both the developing and adult brains. Entry into CSF was more limited. Its transfer across the placenta was substantially restricted as only about 50% of maternal blood plasma cannabidiol concentration was detected in fetal plasma. Albumin was the main, but not exclusive, cannabidiol binding protein at all ages. Several transcripts for cannabidiol receptors were expressed in age- and tissue-specific manner indicating that cannabidiol may have different functional effects in the fetal compared to adult brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgia Fitzpatrick
- Department of Neuroscience, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
| | - Yifan Huang
- Department of Neuroscience, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
| | - Fiona Qiu
- Department of Neuroscience, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
| | - Mark D Habgood
- Department of Neuroscience, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
| | - Robert L Medcalf
- Department of Neuroscience, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
| | - Heidi Ho
- Department of Neuroscience, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
| | | | - Norman R Saunders
- Department of Neuroscience, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia.
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Nilsen K, Staff AC, Krogsrud SK. Paracetamol use in pregnancy: Not as safe as we may think? Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 2023; 102:652-656. [PMID: 36941046 PMCID: PMC10201974 DOI: 10.1111/aogs.14557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Revised: 02/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023]
Abstract
Paracetamol is used by more than 50% of women worldwide during pregnancy; headache representing the most frequent indication. Several studies report that long-term exposure to paracetamol in utero is associated with adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in children, indicating a dose-response effect. However, less or no risk is found to be associated with short-term exposure. Paracetamol most likely crosses the placenta through passive diffusion, and there are several possible mechanisms for how paracetamol might affect fetal brain development. Although the literature suggests an association between prenatal paracetamol exposure and neurodevelopmental outcomes, the role of confounders cannot be ruled out. Consequently, as a precaution, we believe that pregnant women should be recommended ideally to only use paracetamol to treat conditions that might harm the fetus, such as severe pain or a high fever. This Comment aims to put focus on the potential fetal risks of paracetamol exposure in utero.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anne Cathrine Staff
- Faculty of MedicineUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
- Division of Obstetrics and GynecologyOslo University HospitalOsloNorway
| | - Stine Kleppe Krogsrud
- School of Health SciencesKristiania University CollegeOsloNorway
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
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Saunders NR, Dziegielewska KM, Fame RM, Lehtinen MK, Liddelow SA. The choroid plexus: a missing link in our understanding of brain development and function. Physiol Rev 2023; 103:919-956. [PMID: 36173801 PMCID: PMC9678431 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00060.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies of the choroid plexus lag behind those of the more widely known blood-brain barrier, despite a much longer history. This review has two overall aims. The first is to outline long-standing areas of research where there are unanswered questions, such as control of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) secretion and blood flow. The second aim is to review research over the past 10 years where the focus has shifted to the idea that there are choroid plexuses located in each of the brain's ventricles that make specific contributions to brain development and function through molecules they generate for delivery via the CSF. These factors appear to be particularly important for aspects of normal brain growth. Most research carried out during the twentieth century dealt with the choroid plexus, a brain barrier interface making critical contributions to the composition and stability of the brain's internal environment throughout life. More recent research in the twenty-first century has shown the importance of choroid plexus-generated CSF in neurogenesis, influence of sex and other hormones on choroid plexus function, and choroid plexus involvement in circadian rhythms and sleep. The advancement of technologies to facilitate delivery of brain-specific therapies via the CSF to treat neurological disorders is a rapidly growing area of research. Conversely, understanding the basic mechanisms and implications of how maternal drug exposure during pregnancy impacts the developing brain represents another key area of research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norman R Saunders
- Department of Neuroscience, The Alfred Centre, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | | | - Ryann M Fame
- Department of Pathology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Maria K Lehtinen
- Department of Pathology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Shane A Liddelow
- Neuroscience Institute, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York
- Department of Ophthalmology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York
- Parekh Center for Interdisciplinary Neurology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York
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Huang Y, Qiu F, Habgood M, Nie S, Dziegielewska K, Saunders N. Entry of the antipsychotic drug, olanzapine, into the developing rat brain in mono- and combination therapies. F1000Res 2022; 11:1417. [PMID: 36798113 PMCID: PMC9925881 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.128074.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Olanzapine is used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder in women of childbearing age. Continuation of psychotropic medications throughout pregnancy and lactation is often required as cessation could be dangerous for both mother and child. However, there is a lack of information on the transfer of these drugs into the developing brain. Methods: Sprague Dawley rats at three developmental ages: embryonic day E19, postnatal day P4 and non-pregnant adult females were administered unlabelled or radiolabelled ( 3H) olanzapine (0.15 mg/kg) either as monotherapy or in combination with each of seven other common medications. Similar injections were administered to pregnant E19 females to investigate placental transfer. Olanzapine in plasma, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and brain was measured by liquid scintillation counting after a single dose (acute) or following 5 days of treatment (prolonged). Results: Olanzapine entry into brain and CSF was not age-dependent. Prolonged olanzapine treatment reduced placental transfer from 53% to 46% (p<0.05). Co-administration of digoxin or lamotrigine with olanzapine increased its entry into the fetal brain, whereas paracetamol decreased its entry into the CSF. Placental transfer of olanzapine was increased by co-treatment with cimetidine and digoxin, whereas co-treatment with lamotrigine, paracetamol or valproate led to a substantial decrease. Repeated co-treatment of digoxin and olanzapine increased olanzapine transfer into the brain and CSF, but not across the placenta. Overall entry of olanzapine from maternally administered drugs into the fetal brain was higher after combination therapy with cimetidine and digoxin. Conclusions: Co-administration of olanzapine with some commonly used drugs affected its entry into the fetus and its developing brain to a greater extent than in adults. It appears that protection of the fetal brain for these drugs primarily comes from the placenta rather than from the fetal brain barriers. Results suggest that drug combinations should be used with caution particularly during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifan Huang
- Department of Neuroscience, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004, Australia.,Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Fiona Qiu
- Department of Neuroscience, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004, Australia
| | - Mark Habgood
- Department of Neuroscience, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004, Australia.,Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Shuai Nie
- Melbourne Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Facility, Bio 21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Katarzyna Dziegielewska
- Department of Neuroscience, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004, Australia.,Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Norman Saunders
- Department of Neuroscience, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004, Australia
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