Effects of prenatal exposure to low concentrations of carbon monoxide on sexual behaviour and mesolimbic dopaminergic function in rat offspring

Abstract

1 Inhalation of low concentrations of carbon monoxide (CO) by pregnant rats (75 and 150 p.p.m. from day 0 to day 20 of gestation) leads to changes in mesolimbic dopaminergic transmission associated with an impairment of sexual behaviour in male o spring. 2 Eighty day old males exposed in utero to CO (150 p.p.m.) exhibited a signi®cant increase in mount/ intromission latency as well as a signi®cant decrease in mount/intromission frequency. A signi®cant decrease in ejaculation frequency was also found in CO (150 p.p.m.)-exposed animals. 3 The acute administration of amphetamine, at a dose (0.5 mg kg 71 s.c.) stimulating copulatory activity in control rats, failed to reduce mount/intromission latency and did not increase mount frequency in 80-day o spring exposed to CO (150 p.p.m.) during gestation. 4 These behavioural alterations were paralleled by neurochemical changes (in vivo microdialysis) showing that prenatal CO exposure, at concentrations (150 p.p.m.) that did not a ect basal extracellular levels of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens, blunted the amphetamine (0.5 mg kg 71 s.c.)-induced increase in dopamine release in 80-day old male rats. 5 No signi®cant changes in either behavioural or neurochemical parameters were observed in 10-month old rats exposed prenatally to CO. 6 Since the alterations in sexual behaviour and dopaminergic transmission have been produced by prenatal exposure to CO levels resulting in maternal blood carboxyhaemoglobin concentrations equivalent to those maintained by human cigarette smokers, the present data further point out the large risk that the smoking mother poses for her o spring.

Carbon Monoxide: Endogenous Production, Physiological Functions, and Pharmacological Applications

“…Furthermore, HO-2 knockout lead to a markedly diminished reflex activity of the bulbospongiosus muscle of mice, which mediates ejaculation and ejaculatory behavior (Burnett et al, 1998). In contrast, another study showed that prenatal exposure to CO (150 ppm) lead to an increased mount/intromission latency, decreased mount/intromission frequency, and a significant decrease in ejaculation frequency of 80-day male rats (Cagiano et al, 1998). Prenatal exposure to exogenous CO and endogenous production of CO in adult animals may explain these seemingly inconsistent observations.…”

Genetic Factors Involved in the Effects of Developmental Low-Level Alcohol Induced Behavioral Alterations in Rats

“…According to our previous studies (Cagiano et al 1998b;Pozzi et al 1995;Tattoli et al 2001) once a stable basal DA output was obtained (no more than 10% difference between two consecutive samples) rats were given a challenge dose of amphetamine (0.5 mg/kg). d-Amphetamine sulfate (Sigma Chemical Company, St. Louis, MO, USA) was dissolved in saline and administered (as the salt) s.c. in a volume of 2 ml/kg.…”

The Role of Antioxidants in Cerebellar Development: A Review of Literature

“…Gestational exposure to carbon monoxide impairs vascular reactivity in rat offspring atdifferent stages of neurogenesis (Di Giovanni et al). The developing central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system are extremely susceptible to the reduction of oxygen availability produced by carbon monoxide exposure (Mactutus & Fechter, 1984), and both neurobehavioural and neurochemical alterations have been found in male rat offspring exposed to low levels of carbon monoxide during gestation (Di Giovanni et al;Cagiano et al, 1998).…”