title: Maternal para-chlorophenylalanine exposure modifies central monoamines and behaviors in the adult offspring.
abstract: We reported a perspective animal model of neurodevelopmental disorders using rats prenatally exposed to an inhibitor of serotonin (5HT) synthesis, para-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA). Earlier, we demonstrated that prenatal exposure to PCPA caused fetal 5HT depletion and changes both in open field activity and in depression-related behavior, as well as impairments in spatial learning in the adult offspring (Vataeva et al., 2007). The present study revealed that prenatal PCPA treatment resulted in the offspring's significantly reduced anxiety-related behavior in the elevated plus-maze and reduced neophobia to intake fluids in a novel environment. These effects are accompanied by hedonic changes in the form of an appropriate increase in saccharin preference. We confirmed our earlier finding that prenatal PCPA exposure affected the open field locomotor activity. In the present study we have shown that the selective 5HT reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) paroxetine decreases locomotor activity in the prenatally PCPA-treated offspring. It was also found that in the PCPA-treated fetal brain, 5HT depletion was associated with a significant decrease in the level of dopamine (DA) metabolite dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and with a reduction of DOPAC/DA and homovanillic acid (HVA)/DA ratios. An assay of adult offspring brain revealed that the prenatal PCPA produced different effects on monoamines in the studied brain structures. The relationships between behavioral abnormalities and alterations in brain monoamine levels consequent on the prenatal PCPA treatment are discussed.
authors: Laboratory of Ontogenesis of the Nervous System, Pavlov Institute of Physiology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Nab. Makarova, 6, St. Petersburg 199034, Russia. vataeva@yandex.ru
authors: Ludmila A
authors: LA
authors: Vataeva
authors: Vladimir S
authors: VS
authors: Kudrin
authors: Elena A
authors: EA
authors: Vershinina
authors: Vjacheslav M
authors: VM
authors: Mosin
authors: Ekaterina I
authors: EI
authors: Tiul'kova
authors: Vladimir A
authors: VA
authors: Otellin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D015306:Biogenic Monoamines / Q000378:metabolism*; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects*; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D010134:Fenclonine / Q000633:toxicity*; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000187:drug effects; D018811:Maternal Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000633:toxicity*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015306:Biogenic Monoamines; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D012701:Serotonin; D010134:Fenclonine