Neonatal exposure to fenoterol and betamethasone: effects on the behavioral development in the rat.
We investigated longitudinally the behavioral development in the rat following exposure to beta-agonists and glucocorticoids (GC). Neonatal rats received either 1 mg/kg fenoterol (FEN), 0.3 mg/kg betamethasone (BET), or saline (SAL). Weanling and young adult rats were tested in the open field, the elevated-plus maze, and the water maze. FEN-treated as well as BET-treated animals displayed increased anxiety-like behavior. Furthermore, BET-treated adult animals showed a reduced locomotor activity. An enhanced 24-h memory in the water maze in both treatment groups may be facilitated by emotional arousal due to the increased anxiety levels. The possible neurobiological underpinnings are discussed in detail.
Pitzer
Martina
M
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, Germany. pitzer@zi-mannheim.de
Schmidt
Martin H
MH
D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000633:toxicity*; D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D001623:Betamethasone / Q000633:toxicity*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005280:Fenoterol / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000633:toxicity*; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D005280:Fenoterol; D001623:Betamethasone