Developmental effects of early postnatal treatment of rats with prochlorperazine

This study examined effects of neonatal prochlorperazine in rats tested as adults in a variety of behaviors. The drug exposure impaired open field behavior during treatment neonatally. However, no differences in open field behavior were observed in adulthood. Adult females that had received drug were less efficient in obtaining food reinforcement in a conditioned maze performance than were respective controls and showed a slight increase in motor activity during accommodation. d-Amphetamine-induced motor activity was greater in both treated males and females relative to respective controls. Spaced trials in shuttle-box avoidance uncovered an avoidance decrement in the treated females only. This drug treatment appears to cause subtle changes in brain development in the rat.