Anand Mishra

Prenatal desvenlafaxine induced behavioural alterations in Swiss albino mice

Background Desvenlafaxine is used as an antidepressant and acts by inhibiting reuptake of serotonin and nor-adrenaline. Purpose The safety profile of desvenlafaxine has not yet been established during pregnancy, so we planned this study to see the behavioral changes in pups of mice who received desvenlafaxine during gestational period. Methods Swiss albino mice were used for the present study. The treated group was given desvenlafaxine orally in the dose of 80 mg/kg from 1st to 6th day of gestation and other group was given tap water by same route. Results Desvenlafaxine treated mice in group 2, i.e. for the gestation period 1–6 showed increased activity and decrease anxiety in open field and elevated plus maze test as compared to control. However, after chronic exposure for the duration of 18 days the offspring showed increased anxiety and fearfulness as compared to controls. Conclusion Above findings suggest that desvenlafaxine have a deleterious effect on brain development, thus resulting in abnormal anxiety states, possibly through altering uptake of serotonin and nor-epinephrine.

Prenatal Topiramate Exposure Induced Developmental Changes in Rat Brain

Female Charles Foster pregnant rats were treated with Topiramate which is a newer antiepileptic drug used in refractory partial seizure. The drug was introduced through oral route in the doses of 40, 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight from days 9–12 of gestation (Sperm +ve = 0 day) in female rats. Control female rats were introduced equivalent amount of tap water through the same route. The fetuses from both control and treated groups were collected on day 21 of gestation after sacrificing the mothers by deep ether anaesthesia. They were examined, weighed and further fixed in formalin for histomorphological examination. The brains were dissected out, on gross examination, they did not show any difference in morphology between control and treated groups. Histological observation of the treated brains showed dilatation of blood vessels and spongiform changes disturbing typical laminar pattern of the cortical plate in cerebrum and scattered patches of gliosis around degenerated cellular mass. The subventricular zone was found to be thickened in comparison to the control brains. The changes were similar in all three treated groups as compared to the controls except that the severity of drug insult increased with increasing doses of the drug. doi: 10.5214/ans.0972.7531.2005.120204

Effect of 50-Hz Powerline Exposed Magnetized Water on Rat Kidney

Double distilled water samples were exposed for 48 hr. to 50 Hz-powerline electromagnetic field (EMF) strength of 51.2 μT (36.2 RMS). This EMF exposed water was made available to experimental adult Charles-Foster male rats for drinking ad libitum for 30 days. On the 31st day the rats were anaesthetised with ether and then fixed by perfusion with 10% neutral formalin. The Kidneys were dissected out and further fixed in the same fixative. The corresponding control rats provided with unexposed triple distilled water were similarly treated. On gross examination, no anomaly was observed in the kidney of the exposed group. On histological examination, marked spongiform changes leading to degeneration and compensatory proliferation of the glomerular tufts and degeneration of the lining epithelia of the tubules was observed. This study adds a link in demonstrating that powerline exposure induces stable changes in water structures and effects biomechanisms of tissue fluid.

EFFECT OF PRENATAL TOPIRAMATE EXPOSURE ON BEHAVIORAL ALTERATIONS IN RATS

Background: Topiramate (TPM), a novel antiepileptic agent, blocks the spread of seizures rather than by raising the seizure threshold. It has been reported to be a promising medication for the treatment of both alcohol and nicotine dependence, presumably by its ability to modulate cortico-mesolimbic dopamine function profoundly. Purpose: To study the effect of prenatal topiramate exposure during brain development in rats. Methods: Pregnant Charles-Foster rats were exposed to topiramate at the doses of 40,100 and 200 mg/kg body weight orally from day 9–12 of gestation (GD). The animals from both treated as well as vehicle control groups were allowed to deliver on GD 21. The offspring culled at birth on the basis of sex and weights were subjected to behavioral tests at the age of 8 weeks. Behavioral tests were performed in Open field, elevated plus maze and Morris Water Maze. Results: The topiramate treated rat offspring showed enhanced anxiety, increased fearfulness, reduction in spatial learning and memory. Conclusion: This study concludes that the prenatal exposure to topiramate during a critical period of brain development leaves a lasting imprint on the brain, resulting in abnormal anxiety states, possibly through dopaminergic neurotransmission mechanisms. doi: 10.5214/ans.0972.7531.2008.150202 Competing interests: None. Source of Funding: None Received Date: 29 Feb 2008 Revised Date: 31 March 2008 Accepted Date: 12 April 2007