Original Paper

Effect of Prenatal Exposure to Diazepam on Brain GABA_A Receptor mRNA Levels in Rats Examined at Late Fetal or Adult Ages
Alice A. Roberts, Gloria L. Pleger, Carol K. Kellogg

Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, University of Rochester, N.Y., USA

Address of Corresponding Author

Dev Neurosci 2001;23:135-144 (DOI: 10.1159/000048705)

  Key Words

• -Aminobutyric acid
• Type A -aminobutyric acid receptor
• Diazepam
• mRNA
• 1-subunit
• Cyclophilin
• In utero

  Abstract

This study tested the hypotheses that in utero exposure to diazepam (DZ): (1) exerts long-lasting effects on GABA_A receptor function by altering GABA_A receptor subunit mRNA levels in specific brain regions of adult animals and/or (2) alters GABA_A subunit mRNA expression in exposed fetuses. We assayed levels of mRNAs encoding several of the most predominant GABA_A receptor subunits as well as cyclophilin mRNA. Analysis of mRNA levels in the cortex in adults showed that only 2S mRNA levels varied significantly with prenatal drug exposure, an effect unrelated to DZ action to the GABA_A receptor. Analysis in fetuses indicated that mRNA levels varied as a function of both fetal sex and fetal drug environment. Irrespective of sex, DZ exposure increased both 1 and cyclophilin mRNAs in fetal brainstem whereas the mRNA levels of 2S were increased and decreased, respectively, in the telencephalon and hypothalamus of DZ-exposed fetuses.

Copyright © 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Dr. Carol Kellogg
Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences
University of Rochester, Box 270268
Rochester, NY 14627 (USA)
Tel. +1 716 275 4801, Fax +1 716 442 9216, E-Mail kellogg@cs.rochester.edu

  Article Information

Received: Received: March 2, 2001
Accepted: May 4, 2001
Number of Print Pages : 10
Number of Figures : 4, Number of Tables : 0, Number of References : 58