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Current Proteomics

Editor-in-Chief

ISSN (Print): 1570-1646
ISSN (Online): 1875-6247

Research Article

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

Author(s): Mona Awad Alonazi, Amina El Gezeery, Afaf El-Ansary and Ramesa Shafi Bhat*

Volume 18, Issue 4, 2021

Published on: 16 November, 2020

Page: [499 - 504] Pages: 6

DOI: 10.2174/1570164617999201116154235

Price: $65

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.

Keywords: Depression, neurotransmitters, pro-inflammatory cytokines, caspases, brain, SSRI.

Graphical Abstract

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