Effects of Pre- and Postnatal Haloperidol Administrations to Pregnant and Nursing Rats on Brain Catecholamine Levels in Their Offspring

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Effects of perinatal, maternal treatments with haloperidol [a neuroleptic] on brain catecholamine and serotonin concentrations in maturing offspring were examined. The drug was administered orally, at 3 different dosages, each day from the 14th gestational day to postnatal day 12. At 14, 22, 53 and 90 days of age offspring were selected for regional assays of amine neurotransmitter concentrations. Haloperidol can evidently alter the developmental accumulation of central catecholaminergic neurotransmitters. The drug-induced decreases in cortical and spinal norepinephrine levels and in striatal dopamine content in the offspring persisted into adulthood. Regional serotonin concentrations in offspring were not affected by the maternal haloperidol treatments. Central catecholamine receptors are apparently necessary for normal development of dopaminergic and noradrenergic innervation in the CNS.