title: In utero ethanol exposure decreased the density of serotonin neurons. Maternal ipsapirone treatment exerted a protective effect.
abstract: Prior studies from this laboratory showed that in utero ethanol exposure severely retards the development of the serotonin (5-HT) system; we demonstrated a reduced concentration of 5-HT and 5-HT reuptake sites and alterations in the concentration of 5-HT(1A) receptors in ethanol-exposed offspring. These investigations also found that maternal treatment with a 5-HT(1A) agonist, buspirone, prevented most of the ethanol-associated damage to the developing 5-HT system. In the present investigation, we investigated whether the ethanol-associated changes in the 5-HT system are due to a reduction of 5-HT neurons and whether any changes in the density of 5-HT neurons can be prevented by maternal treatment with another 5-HT(1A) agonist, ipsapirone. Using immunocytochemistry, we found that in utero ethanol exposure reduced the density of 5-HT immunopositive neurons in the dorsal raphe, median raphe and B9 neurons of postnatal day 5 (PN5) rats. In all three brain areas, the offspring of ethanol-fed, saline-treated dams exhibited a 28%-40% reduction in 5-HT neurons. Ipsapirone prevented the ethanol-induced reduction in 5-HT immunopositive neurons in the dorsal raphe, median raphe and B9 neurons. In the dorsal and median raphe of control offspring, ipsapirone did not alter the concentration of 5-HT neurons. However, this drug did reduce 5-HT neurons in the B9 region of the offspring of control-fed rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine, 2160 S. First Avenue, Maywood, IL 60153, USA.
authors.forename: N F
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Tajuddin
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Druse
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002452:Cell Count / Q000187:drug effects; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D018811:Maternal Exposure; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011903:Raphe Nuclei / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014599:Uterus / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D011743:Pyrimidines; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists; D012701:Serotonin; D000431:Ethanol; C043077:ipsapirone