Neurochemical Changes in the Brain After Fetal Exposure to Fluoxetine, A Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SRI) in Rodents

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.

Cite this article as:

Alonazi Awad Mona , El Gezeery Amina , El-Ansary Afaf and Bhat Shafi Ramesa *, Neurochemical Changes in the Brain After Fetal Exposure to Fluoxetine, A Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SRI) in Rodents, Current Proteomics 2021; 18 (4) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1570164617999201116154235