Effects of a rat model of gestational hypothyroidism on forebrain dopaminergic, gabaergic, and serotonergic systems and related behaviors.

EFFECTS OF A RAT MODEL OF GESTATIONAL HYPOTHYROIDISM ON FOREBRAIN DOPAMINERGIC, GABAERGIC, AND SEROTONERGIC SYSTEMS AND RELATED BEHAVIORS. Behav Brain Res. 2019 Mar 18;: Authors: da Cunha Menezes E, Dos Santos PR, Costa Goes T, de Carvalho VCB, Teixeira-Silva F, Stevens HE, Badauê-Passos D Abstract We investigated the effects of maternal hypothyroidism on forebrain dopaminergic, GABAergic, and serotonergic systems and related behavior in adult rat offspring. Experimental gestational hypothyroidism (EGH) was induced by administering 0.02% methimazole (MMI) to pregnant rats from gestational day 9 to delivery. Neurotransmitter-related protein and gene expression were evaluated in offspring forebrain at postnatal day (P) 120. Exploratory behavior, contextual fear conditioning, locomotion, and 30-day reserpine Parkinson induction were assessed from P75-P120. Protein and gene expression assessments of medial prefrontal cortex showed group differences in dopaminergic, GABAergic, and serotonergic receptors, catabolic enzymes, and transporters. Striatum of MMI offspring showed an isolated decrease in the dopaminergic enzyme, tyrosine hydroxylase. MMI exposure increased GABA and dopamine receptor expression in amygdala. MMI offspring also had decreased state anxiety and poor contextual fear conditioning. We found that baseline locomotion was not changed, but reserpine treatment significantly reduced locomotion only in MMI offspring. Our resul...
Source: Behavioural Brain Research - Category: Neurology Authors: Tags: Behav Brain Res Source Type: research