Early life exposure of rats to citalopram, a selective reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant, results in structural abnormalities in the adrenal gland

Abstract

Thirty percent of infants exposed in utero to SSRIs display behavioral and physiological abnormalities in the first few weeks after birth including increased incidence of pulmonary hypertension. Rats exposed from postnatal day (PN) 1–21 to SSRIs display persistent neurobehavioral abnormalities which include severe deficits in social interactions and expression of serotonergic neurons. The adrenal glands function as a reserve in response to stress. Chronically elevated cortisol may induce clinical depression by interfering with central serotonergic neurotransmission. SSRIs were developed to restore serotonin homeostasis. However, exposure to SSRIs can increase glucocorticoids in females and decreases in LH, FSH, and testosterone (T) in males. Therefore, adrenal gland morphology in male and female rats exposed to an SSRI as neonates was evaluated. Long Evans rats (30 male, 30 female) were treated from PN 1–21 with 0.1 mL s.c. of either saline or citalopram (5, 10 or 20mg/Kg). Animals were sacrificed at PN‐180. No changes in glomerulosa zone areas were seen. However, decreases in fasiculata areas were evident in female rats, and the reticularis area was increased in the male rats. In conclusion, data collected from this study indicate than early life exposure to citalopram results in morphological abnormalities in adrenal structure which may result in disturbances in corticosteroid levels in female rats and alterations in LH, FSH, and T in male rats. Supported by RR 017710 to IAP, KLS, and MH 084194 to RCSL.