Prenatal maternal d-amphetamine effects on emotionality and audiogenic seizure susceptibility of rat offspring

Dosages of 0, 5, and 10 mg/kg body weight of d-amphetamine were injected subcutaneously to gravid albino rats during Days 5-9 or Days 12-16 of gestation. Offspring were assessed for water-wading emotionality and audiogenic-seizure behaviors. No significant differences among groups were found in defecation scores from either test. The only animals to exhibit a considerable incidence of wild-running attacks or seizures were these whose mothers had received the placebo early in pregnancy. These differences are in agreement with most findings that indicate an enhancement of immunity to audiogenic seizures susceptibility as a function of prior stress. Maternal administration of d-amphetamine during pregnancy apparently can produce offspring who have less susceptibility to severe emotional responses but no protection against mild expressions of emotionality.