Effects of d‐amphetamine sulfate given to pregnant mice on activity and on catecholamines in the brains of offspring

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Abstract
Offspring of C57BL/6J mice injected with d‐amphetamine sulfate during the last third of pregnancy had slightly reduced body weight at birth, altered concentrations of catecholamines (CA's) in their brains during development, and increased activity after they had matured. Norepinephrine concentrations were depressed at birth, returned to control values by Day 3, and were elevated at 21 and 30 days after birth. Dopamine values were elevated at 30 days after birth. At 75 days of age, animals prenatally exposed to the drug had CA concentrations similar to controls, but had heightened activity levels compared to controls tested in the open field. The results of these experiments demonstrate that d‐amphetamine sulfate administered to mice during the last third of pregnancy produce transient alterations in CA concentrations and long‐lasting changes in behavior.