Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 18, 2026

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
19:15

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale

Published on: August 25, 2014

88.3K

Serotonin and poor neonatal adaptation after antidepressant exposure in utero

Noera Kieviet1, Vera van Keulen1, Peter Marinus van de Ven2

  • 11Department of Pediatrics,Psychiatry Obstetric Pediatric Expert Center,OLVG West Hospital,Amsterdam,The Netherlands.

Acta Neuropsychiatrica
|July 9, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Infants exposed to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) during pregnancy may experience poor neonatal adaptation. This study found altered neonatal 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) levels in exposed infants with poor adaptation, suggesting a role for serotonin metabolism.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal adaptation
  • Neuroscience
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Infants exposed to selective antidepressants (SADs) in utero face risks of poor neonatal adaptation (PNA).
  • The non-specific symptoms and unknown etiology of PNA complicate diagnosis.
  • Serotonin metabolism is investigated as a potential factor in PNA's development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of serotonin metabolism in the etiology of poor neonatal adaptation (PNA) in infants exposed to selective antidepressants (SADs) in utero.
  • To compare neonatal urinary 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) levels between SAD-exposed infants with and without PNA, and control infants.

Main Methods:

  • A controlled study included 63 SAD-exposed infants and 126 non-exposed controls over 3 days postpartum.
  • Neonatal urinary 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) levels were measured.
  • Infants were categorized into: SAD-exposed with PNA, SAD-exposed without PNA, and control infants.

Main Results:

  • The course of 5-HIAA levels differed significantly between infants with and without PNA (p≤0.001).
  • Infants with PNA exhibited higher 5-HIAA levels on day 1 (2.42 mmol/mol, p=0.001).
  • Maternal psychological distress was found to modify the relationship between SAD exposure and PNA outcomes.

Conclusions:

  • A transient disturbance in the neonatal serotonergic system may contribute to the etiology of PNA.
  • Maternal psychological distress appears to be another significant factor influencing PNA.
Abstract

Keywords:
SSRIcentral nervous systemdepressionpsychopharmacology

More Related Videos

Using a Murine Model of Psychosocial Stress in Pregnancy as a Translationally Relevant Paradigm for Psychiatric Disorders in Mothers and Infants06:39

Using a Murine Model of Psychosocial Stress in Pregnancy as a Translationally Relevant Paradigm for Psychiatric Disorders in Mothers and Infants

Published on: June 13, 2021

3.9K
Chronic Social Defeat Stress in Early Adolescent Male Mice07:06

Chronic Social Defeat Stress in Early Adolescent Male Mice

Published on: January 24, 2025

1.7K

Related Concept Videos

Antidepressant Drugs: MAOIs and Other Agents01:23

Antidepressant Drugs: MAOIs and Other Agents

Atypical antidepressants, including bupropion (Wellbutrin), mirtazapine (Remeron), nefazodone (Serzone), trazodone (Desyrel), and vilazodone (Viibryd), offer unique mechanisms of action. Bupropion weakly inhibits dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake, aiding depression treatment and smoking cessation, with a low risk of sexual dysfunction. Mirtazapine enhances serotonin and norepinephrine neurotransmission, leading to sedation, increased appetite, and weight gain. As a result, it helps treat...
1.1K
Antidepressant Drugs: Tricyclics, SSRIs, and SNRIs01:28

Antidepressant Drugs: Tricyclics, SSRIs, and SNRIs

Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs), including Desipramine (Norpramin), Imipramine (Tofranil), Clomipramine (Anafranil), and Amitriptyline (Elavil), inhibit serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake and also block other receptors. They are used for depression, pain conditions, and insomnia. Common adverse effects include anticholinergic effects, sedation, orthostatic hypotension, and weight gain. They have a narrow therapeutic window and so require plasma-level monitoring. Abrupt discontinuation can...
2.0K
Antidepressant Drugs: Overview01:25

Antidepressant Drugs: Overview

Antidepressant drugs are a class of medications primarily used for treating various mood disorders, including major depression, anxiety disorders, and other related conditions. These medicines work by modulating the neurotransmitter balance within the brain, alleviating depressive symptoms. Antidepressants can be broadly categorized into several groups according to their mechanism of action and chemical structure: Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), Serotonin-Norepinephrine...
1.9K
Nonlinear Pharmacokinetics: Dependence of Elimination Half-Life and Dose Clearance01:23

Nonlinear Pharmacokinetics: Dependence of Elimination Half-Life and Dose Clearance

The elimination half-life and drug clearance of drugs following nonlinear kinetics can vary with dosage. The Michaelis-Menten parameters and drug concentration influence these factors. As the dose increases, the elimination half-life tends to lengthen, resulting in a reduction in clearance and a disproportionately larger area under the curve. The total clearance can be derived from the Michaelis-Menten equation for drugs following a one-compartment model.
A study on guinea pigs examined the...
846
G-protein Coupled Receptors01:21

G-protein Coupled Receptors

G-protein coupled receptors are ligand binding receptors that indirectly affect changes in the cell. The actual receptor is a single polypeptide that transverses the cell membrane seven times creating intracellular and extracellular loops. The extracellular loops create a ligand specific pocket which binds to neurotransmitters or hormones. The intracellular loops holds onto the G-protein.
133.8K
Socioemotional Development during Infancy01:30

Socioemotional Development during Infancy

Socio-emotional development in infancy is primarily shaped by early emotional responses and social connections, with temperament playing a central role. Temperament refers to the consistent patterns in an individual's emotional and behavioral responses, observable even in infancy. By examining temperament, researchers can better understand an infant's unique ways of interacting with the world, influencing subsequent personality and socio-emotional growth.
Primary Temperament Types
1.1K