Title:Neurochemical Changes in the Brain After Fetal Exposure to Fluoxetine, A Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SRI) in Rodents
Volume: 18
Issue: 4
Author(s): Mona Awad Alonazi, Amina El Gezeery, Afaf El-Ansary and Ramesa Shafi Bhat*
Affiliation:
- Biochemistry Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh,Saudi Arabia
Keywords:
Depression, neurotransmitters, pro-inflammatory cytokines, caspases, brain, SSRI.
Abstract:
Background: In utero exposure to Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI) is
considered a risk factor for many neurodevelopmental diseases.
Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate whether prenatal SSRI exposure changes newborn
brain chemistry.
Methods: An animal-based study was designed in which the utero SSRI exposed rat pups were
compared to one without drug exposure. Neurochemical changes in the infants were assessed after
2 days of birth by estimating the levels of inflammatory cytokines, neurotransmitters, and caspases
in the brain exposed to SSRI at the prenatal stage and compared to normal unexposed newborns.
Results: Our results showed significant neurochemical changes in SSRI-exposed newborns. A significant
decrease in dopamine, and serotonin levels with a remarkable decrease in noradrenaline in
addition to remarkable increase of IFN-γ and caspase-3 levels was observed in the brain tissues of
prenatal exposed SSRIs rat pups.
Conclusion: The results suggest that prenatal SSRI treatment may affect brain development of newborn
hence should be done warily during the gestation period.
