Long-term effects of prenatal 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT) exposure on intermale aggressive behaviour of mice.
BACKGROUND
AZT treatment of seropositive pregnant women and their neonates has been widely used due to its effectiveness in reducing vertical transmission of HIV, but medium- and long-term effects of AZT on neurobehavioural development and adult responding are still poorly described.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the long-term effects of prenatal AZT treatment on aggressive behaviour of adult male mice.


METHODS
Pregnant CD-1 mice were given saline vehicle, 0.4, or 0.8 mg/ml AZT in their drinking water from gestation day 10 to delivery. Social-aggressive types of interaction were assessed in their male offspring following a 4-week isolation period. Two groups of subjects were used, each undergoing a different type of test: test 1 consisted of a single 20-min encounter with an isolated same-strain opponent on postnatal day (PND) 90, while in test 2 (PND 150) subjects were paired for 10 min for 5 consecutive days with a non-isolated opponent.


RESULTS
Slight changes in both aggressive and defensive components of the male-specific agonistic pattern were evident only in test 1, AZT mice displaying a limited increase of aggressive behaviour compared to their controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Although the long-term effects of prenatal AZT on social behaviour are limited, they may be of some relevance for paediatricians in order to plan a follow-up of infants, children and adolescents exposed in utero to antiretroviral drugs.
Rondinini
C
C
Section of Behavioural Pathophysiology, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma, Italy.
Venerosi
A
A
Branchi
I
I
Calamandrei
G
G
Alleva
E
E
D000374:Aggression / Q000187:drug effects*; D000818:Animals; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D015215:Zidovudine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D015215:Zidovudine