Prednisone effects on postnatal brain development of rats following maternal therapy

16-beta-Metilprednisone was administered in the last week of pregnancy in order to study its effects on postnatal brain development of the litters. Two groups of pregnant inbred rats were used for the experiments. Group I received 1.25 mg/kg/day 16-beta-metilprednisone. Group II served as untreated controls. The litters were killed either within 24 hr after birth, at 17 days, or at 45 days of age. Treated litters (animals whose mothers received the steroid) had a decreased body weight at 17 days of age. Wet brain weight was decreased in the same group. At 17 and 45 days of life treated rats showed a dry brain weight lower than that of controls. Newborn and 17-day-old rats whose mothers received the steroid showed a decreased content of brain proteins. Total lipids, cholesterol, and phospholipids were reduced in the brain of treated rats at 45 days of life. Brain phospholipids were also decreased in 17-day-old rats. These results show that 16-beta-metilprednisone administration to pregnant rats produces long lasting changes in brain chemical composition.