title: Neurobehavior effects in four strains of mice offspring exposed prenatally to alprazolam.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was performed to determine whether prenatal exposure to alprazolam affects offspring behavior in different strains of mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight to 11 gravid mice of the C3H/He, C57BL/6, A/J, and DBA/2 strains were given either an anxiolytic dose of alprazolam (0.32 mg/kg) or a placebo by gavage on day 18 of an anticipated 19- to 21-day gestation. Neurobehavior tasks were conducted to assess anxiety, learning and memory, and social interaction. Data were analyzed by analysis of variance or a Fisher exact probability test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Anxiety in alprazolam-exposed offspring was reduced in C3H/He (P <.05) and A/J (P <.05) newborn infants by separation vocalization but may be increased in the C3H/He adult strain on the plus maze task. Learning was slower among C57BL/6 mice exposed to alprazolam (P <.01), whereas memory was reduced in exposed A/J and DBA/2 offspring (P <.05). Alprazolam exposure was associated with more aggression among C3H/He and C57BL/6 male offspring (P <.01) and with less group activity by C57BL/6 offspring (P <.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Altered behaviors in several mouse strains after prenatal exposure to alprazolam suggests a vulnerability of GABA-benozdiazepine receptor formation in fetal brain development.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, 2211 Lomas Boulevard NE (ACC 4), Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA. wrayburn@salud.unm.edu
authors.forename: William F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Rayburn
authors.forename: H Dix
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Christensen
authors.forename: Karen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Gold
authors.forename: Christina L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
mesh_terms: D000374:Aggression / Q000187:drug effects; D000525:Alprazolam / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001010:Anxiety, Separation / Q000523:psychology; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D009420:Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D013045:Species Specificity; D014828:Vocalization, Animal / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000525:Alprazolam