Caesarean section birth with general anesthesia increases dopamine-mediated behavior in the adult rat.
Schizophrenia is associated with both increased dopaminergic activity and perinatal complications. To test whether dopamine-mediated behavior can be altered by birth complications, we investigated effects of amphetamine (AMPT) on activity levels in adult rats that had been born vaginally or by Caesarean section (C-section) from isoflurane-anesthetized dams with or without addition of 10 min global anoxia. For comparison with our previous results, we also included rats born by C-section from decapitated dams. The main finding is that rats born by C-section from isoflurane-anesthetized dams, either with or without added anoxia, showed greater AMPT-induced activity as adults compared to vaginally born controls. C-section from decapitated dams also enhanced AMPT-induced activity, however the time course differed from that following maternal anesthesia. Thus subtle alterations in birth procedure can produce long-lasting increases in dopamine-mediated behavior, supporting a role for birth complications in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia.
Vaillancourt
C
C
Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Douglas Hospital Research Center, Verdun, Quebec, Canada.
Boksa
P
P
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000502:physiology*; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000503:physiopathology; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D007530:Isoflurane / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D009609:Nitrous Oxide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D019805:alpha-Methyltyrosine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology
D019805:alpha-Methyltyrosine; D007530:Isoflurane; D009609:Nitrous Oxide; D004298:Dopamine