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Is There a Causal Relation between Maternal Acetaminophen Administration and ADHD?

Antonio Saad1, Shruti Hegde1, Talar Kechichian1

  • 1Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America.

Plos One
|June 14, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Prenatal acetaminophen (APAP) exposure in mice did not lead to hyperkinetic behaviors or brain abnormalities in offspring. This study challenges the hypothesis linking maternal APAP use to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Epidemiological studies suggest a link between maternal acetaminophen (APAP) use and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children.
  • Causality has not been established in previous human studies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if prenatal exposure to acetaminophen (APAP) during pregnancy causes hyperkinetic dysfunctions in offspring.
  • Utilized a murine model to assess the effects of APAP exposure.

Main Methods:

  • Pregnant mice received either APAP (150 mg/kg/day) or a control solution from embryonic day 7 until delivery.
  • Offspring underwent behavioral testing for locomotor activity (LMA).
  • Brain MRI and neuronal quantification were performed on offspring, with statistical analysis using a mixed-effects Poisson regression model.

Main Results:

  • Maternal serum APAP levels peaked as expected, with no significant differences in alanine transaminase (ALT) levels between groups.
  • No significant differences in locomotor activity, brain region volumes (MRI), or neuronal counts were observed in offspring exposed to APAP in utero.
  • Statistical analysis, corrected for multiple comparisons, did not reveal any adverse effects.

Conclusions:

  • The study refutes the hypothesis that prenatal APAP exposure causes hyperkinetic dysfunction in mouse offspring.
  • Results should be interpreted with caution due to limitations in accurately assessing ADHD in murine models compared to clinical data.
Abstract

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