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Updated: Jun 28, 2026

Neurodevelopmental Reflex Testing in Neonatal Rat Pups
09:35

Neurodevelopmental Reflex Testing in Neonatal Rat Pups

Published on: April 24, 2017

Neonatal exposure to citalopram, a serotonin selective reuptake inhibitor, programs a delay in the reflex ontogeny in

Teresa Cristina Bomfim de Jesus Deiró1, Judelita Carvalho, Elizabethdo Nascimento

  • 1Departamento de Ciências da Nutrição, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, BA, Brasil.

Arquivos De Neuro-Psiquiatria
|October 25, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Neonatal rats treated with citalopram showed reduced weight gain and delayed reflex development. Serotonin pathways are crucial for neurodevelopment and behavioral maturation in early life.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Serotonin is vital for nervous system development and behavior.
  • Altered serotonin levels in early life may impact neurodevelopmental trajectories.
  • Understanding these effects is crucial for developmental neuroscience.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of increased serotonin availability on neonatal rat development.
  • To assess effects on body weight gain and reflex maturation.
  • To explore the role of serotonergic mechanisms in perinatal neurobehavioral development.

Main Methods:

  • Neonatal rats received daily subcutaneous injections of citalopram (5 mg/kg or 10 mg/kg) during the suckling period.
  • Recorded the onset of various reflexes: palm grasp, righting (from palm and free-fall), vibrissa placing, auditory startle, negative geotaxis, and cliff avoidance.
  • Monitored body weight evolution throughout the study period.

Main Results:

  • Citalopram-treated rats exhibited a delay in the appearance of most tested reflexes.
  • Drug-treated animals showed significantly reduced body weight gain compared to controls.
  • These findings indicate a dose-dependent effect of citalopram on neurodevelopment.

Conclusions:

  • Serotonergic mechanisms significantly modulate body weight gain in neonatal rats.
  • Maturation of most reflex responses during the perinatal period is influenced by serotonin.
  • Early-life serotonin modulation can have lasting impacts on neurobehavioral development.

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