Abstract
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1584 - 1593 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | European Journal of Neuroscience |
| Volume | 37 |
| Issue number | 10 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2013 |
Cite this
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Perturbations in cortical development and neuronal network excitability arising from prenatal exposure to benzodiazepines in mice. / Haas, Matilda; Qu, Zhengdong; Kim, Tae Hwan; Vargas, Ernesto; Campbell, Kenneth; Petrou, Steven; Tan, Seong-Seng; Reid, Christopher A; Heng, Julian Ik-Tsen.
In: European Journal of Neuroscience, Vol. 37, No. 10, 2013, p. 1584 - 1593.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
TY - JOUR
T1 - Perturbations in cortical development and neuronal network excitability arising from prenatal exposure to benzodiazepines in mice
AU - Haas, Matilda
AU - Qu, Zhengdong
AU - Kim, Tae Hwan
AU - Vargas, Ernesto
AU - Campbell, Kenneth
AU - Petrou, Steven
AU - Tan, Seong-Seng
AU - Reid, Christopher A
AU - Heng, Julian Ik-Tsen
PY - 2013
Y1 - 2013
N2 - During brain development, many factors influence the assembly and final positioning of cortical neurons, and this process is essential for proper circuit formation and normal brain function. Among many important extrinsic factors that guide the maturation of embryonic cortical neurons, the secreted neurotransmitter GABA has been proposed to influence both their migratory behaviour and their terminal differentiation. The full extent of the short-term and long-term changes in brain patterning and function caused by modulators of the GABA system is not known. In this study, we specifically investigated whether diazepam, a commonly used benzodiazepine that modulates the GABAA receptor, alters neuronal positioning in vivo, and whether this can lead to lasting effects on brain function. We found that fetal exposure to diazepam did not change cell positioning within the embryonic day (E)14.5 mouse cerebral cortex, but significantly altered neuron positioning within the E18.5 cortex. In adult mice, diazepam treatment affected the distribution of cortical interneurons that express parvalbumin or calretinin, and also led to a decrease in the numbers of calretinin-expressing interneurons. In addition, we observed that neonatal exposure to diazepam altered the sensitivity of mice to a proconvulsant challenge. Therefore, exposure of the fetal brain to benzodiazepines has consequences for the positioning of neurons and cortical network excitability.
AB - During brain development, many factors influence the assembly and final positioning of cortical neurons, and this process is essential for proper circuit formation and normal brain function. Among many important extrinsic factors that guide the maturation of embryonic cortical neurons, the secreted neurotransmitter GABA has been proposed to influence both their migratory behaviour and their terminal differentiation. The full extent of the short-term and long-term changes in brain patterning and function caused by modulators of the GABA system is not known. In this study, we specifically investigated whether diazepam, a commonly used benzodiazepine that modulates the GABAA receptor, alters neuronal positioning in vivo, and whether this can lead to lasting effects on brain function. We found that fetal exposure to diazepam did not change cell positioning within the embryonic day (E)14.5 mouse cerebral cortex, but significantly altered neuron positioning within the E18.5 cortex. In adult mice, diazepam treatment affected the distribution of cortical interneurons that express parvalbumin or calretinin, and also led to a decrease in the numbers of calretinin-expressing interneurons. In addition, we observed that neonatal exposure to diazepam altered the sensitivity of mice to a proconvulsant challenge. Therefore, exposure of the fetal brain to benzodiazepines has consequences for the positioning of neurons and cortical network excitability.
UR - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dopt=Citation&list_uids=23451919
U2 - 10.1111/ejn.12167
DO - 10.1111/ejn.12167
M3 - Article
VL - 37
SP - 1584
EP - 1593
JO - European Journal of Neuroscience
JF - European Journal of Neuroscience
SN - 0953-816X
IS - 10
ER -