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Published on: April 7, 2014
Alteration of convulsive threshold and conditioned avoidance response in mice fed diets containing contraceptive
Abstract:
Female CD1 mice given the contraceptive steroids mestranol and norethynodrel (1:10) in the diet (0.0033%) for 4 months had a growth reduction of 20% when compared with mice fed a normal diet, and had lower convulsive thresholds when tested with the vitamin B6 antagonists 2,4-dimethyl-5-methyl-hydroxypyrimidine and thiosemicarbazide. In conditioned avoidance response (CAR) tests, mice fed the steroid-containing diets showed a decreased acquisition performance during all six sessions; however, mice fed the same diet supplemented with vitamin B6 (0.04%) performed as well during the last three sessions of the CAR tests as mice fed the normal diet.
Insights
Contraceptive steroids reduced growth and lowered seizure thresholds in mice. Vitamin B6 supplementation improved performance in learning tests, indicating a potential protective effect against steroid-induced neurotoxicity.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Neuroscience
- Toxicology
Background:
- Contraceptive steroids are widely used, but their potential side effects on growth and neurological function require investigation.
- Vitamin B6 is essential for neurotransmitter synthesis and may play a role in mitigating adverse effects of certain compounds.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of contraceptive steroids (mestranol and norethynodrel) on growth and neurological function in female mice.
- To determine if vitamin B6 supplementation can counteract any observed negative effects of these steroids.
Main Methods:
- Female CD1 mice were fed a diet containing contraceptive steroids (mestranol and norethynodrel, 1:10 ratio, 0.0033%) for 4 months.
- Growth reduction was measured, and convulsive thresholds were assessed using vitamin B6 antagonists.
- Conditioned avoidance response (CAR) tests were conducted to evaluate learning and memory, with some groups receiving vitamin B6 supplementation (0.04%).
Main Results:
- Mice receiving contraceptive steroids exhibited a 20% reduction in growth compared to controls.
- These mice also showed decreased convulsive thresholds when challenged with vitamin B6 antagonists.
- In CAR tests, steroid-fed mice demonstrated impaired learning acquisition, but vitamin B6 supplementation normalized performance in later sessions.
Conclusions:
- Combined oral contraceptive steroids can negatively impact growth and neurobehavioral function, including learning and seizure susceptibility.
- Vitamin B6 supplementation appears to mitigate some of the adverse neurobehavioral effects induced by these contraceptive steroids in mice.
