Effect of prenatal exposure to antidepressants on 5-HT-stimulated phosphoinositide hydrolysis and 5-HT2 receptors in rat brain.

1. Female rats were given antidepressants, with different effects on 5-HT uptake, from day 6 of pregnancy until delivery. 2. 5-HT-stimulated inositol phosphate accumulation as well as 5-HT2 receptor density were measured at two different times in the pups. 3. Prenatal exposure to fluoxetine or iprindole reduced phosphoinositide hydrolysis in 25-day-old pups. However, chronic treatment of adult rats with fluoxetine or prenatal exposure to either desipramine or tianeptine did not modify inositol phosphate accumulation. 4. After prenatal exposure, only desipramine significantly decreased the density of [3H]ketanserin-labelled 5-HT2 receptors in the pups. 5. No correlation was found between changes in inositol phosphate formation and 5-HT2 receptor number.