Genetic differences in maternal behaviour patterns in mice administered phenobarbital during pregnancy

Abstract

In a study designed to examine the role of the genotype on sensitivity to drug-induced behavioural changes, pregnant C57BL/6J and CBA mice were administered 60 mg/kg phenobarbital (PHB) intraperitoneally during days 10-16 of gestation. Following a balanced intrastrain fostering procedure, the behaviour of lactating dams was observed in their home cage at 2, 3, 5, 7 and 14 days postpartum. As the pups became older, maternal behaviour declined in control groups, whereas PHB dams of the CBA strain persisted in nursing their pups. C57 dams were generally affected in an opposite way by PHB exposure. For example, treated dams spent significantly less time in licking behaviour. Nest quality score was especially elevated in PHB dams of the CBA strain, while in C57 dams, nest-building was inhibited and nest quality unaffected by the previous PHB exposure. These results indicate that specific items of maternal behaviour can be differently affected by PHB exposure, and that the responses are affected by the genotype. To summarise, pups raised by treated dams may receive either exaggerated or insufficient maternal attention, as a result of changes in neurotransmitter systems and behavioural regulation following phenobarbital exposure. These results point to the need for a better understanding of mother/pup interactions in studies aimed at characterizing drug and toxicant effects on postnatal development.

Genetic determinants of sensitivity to pentobarbital in inbred mice

“…These responses were genetically dissociable, sex-dependent, and were to some extent based on pharmacokinetic differences. Finally, two inbred strains of mice administered PB during pregnancy differed in their maternal behavior (Laviola et al 1990). …”

Early Behavioural Alterations in Mouse Models of Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Step Forward Towards the Discovery of New Therapeutic Approaches

“…For the latter, in line with the 'extreme-male brain theory' (Knickmeyer & Baron-Cohen, 2006) which suggests that elevated fetal testosterone levels may favor the onset of ASD symptoms, estradiol treatment on pnd 5 significantly affected the performance of heterozygous reeler mice in the homing test (Macri et al, 2010). Unexpectedly, the other two environmental challenges normalized the early behavioural phenotype of null mice (Laviola et al, 2006;Laviola et al, 2009;Laviola et al, 1990;Ognibene et al, 2007a;Ognibene et al, 2007b): both prenatal exposure to an aceticholinesterase agent (Chlorpirifos) and repeated maternal separation seemed to restore wt-like levels of ultrasound vocalization emission in homozygous reeler mice. Moreover, in contrast with our predictions, reelin deficiency seemed to play a protective role against maternal separation in the homing-test, where a reduced motivation towards the nest was found in separated mice.…”

Influence of Gestational Exposure on the Effects of Prenatal Exposure to Methyl Mercury on Postnatal Development in Rat: a Preliminary Evaluation

“…Alteration in behaviour of the mother is known to affect infant development and several drugs have been shown to disrupt elements of maternal behaviour (32). Thus, any disturbance to maternal care or the delicate mother-pup relationship may explain different patterns of behaviour in the offspring rather than direct effects of prenatal exposure to a toxicant.…”