Maternal exposure to picrotoxin modifies the response of the GABAA receptor during sexual behavior of adult male rat offspring

Abstract

This study investigated whether perinatal exposure to picrotoxin, a GABAA antagonist, modifies the effect of muscimol, a GABAA agonist, on the sexual behavior of adult male rats. Two hours after birth and then once daily during the next 9 days of lactation, dams received picrotoxin (0.75 mg/kg subcutaneously) or saline (1 ml/kg subcutaneously). The adult male offspring from the picrotoxin and saline groups received saline (1 ml/kg intraperitoneally) or muscimol (1 mg/kg intraperitoneally), and 15 min later, their sexual behavior was assessed. Muscimol treatment in the saline-exposed group increased the mount and intromission latencies. However, these effects were absent in the picrotoxin-exposed groups. The latencies to first ejaculation, postejaculatory mount, and intromission were decreased in both picrotoxin-exposed groups relative to the saline-exposed groups. The picrotoxin+muscimol-treated rats required more intromissions to ejaculate and the picrotoxin-exposed groups made more ejaculations than the saline-exposed groups. Thus, muscimol treatment did not increase the mount and intromission latencies following picrotoxin exposure, but increased the ejaculation frequency, which did not differ between the picrotoxin+muscimol and the picrotoxin+saline groups. These data indicate that perinatal picrotoxin treatment interfered with GABAA receptor development.

Sexual motivation and performance in sexual naïve and experienced rats treated with ivermectin: an ultrasonic vocalization study

“…(56 x 35 x 31 cm) with a removable cover. A layer of sawdust served as bedding, and a 40 W lamp with a red filter provided illumination (Bernardi et al, 2012). The latency to the first mount (mount without intromission in seconds) was recorded.…”

Exposure to GABAA Receptor Antagonist Picrotoxin in Pregnant Mice Causes Autism-Like Behaviors and Aberrant Gene Expression in Offspring

“…Bicuculine treatment during the neonatal period causes aberrant anxiety-like behavior in mature male mice and rats but not in females ( 10 , 11 ). Male rats that were exposed to picrotoxin as embryos exhibited aberrant heterotypical sexual behaviors compared with control rats ( 12 – 14 ). These findings suggest that GABA signaling through GABA A receptors plays a key role in development of the immature CNS, and the inhibition of GABA signaling during developmental periods causes abnormal behaviors in male offspring.…”

Efeitos da morfina em fases distintas da gestação de ratas: comportamento maternal, desenvolvimento físico e neurocomportamental das proles e biologia molecular dos receptores opióides.

“…Pharmacological manipulations in mothers may, in addition to changing maternal behavior, produce physical or neurobehavioral effects in the offspring during childhood that may endure through puberty and into adulthood (Panksepp et al, 1994;Bernardi et al, 2011;Kirsten et al, 2011;Bernardi et al, 2012). Any impairment in these parameters may occur as a result of a direct action of drugs on the pups' brains or changes in the maternal environment.…”