American scientists from Colorado State University have proven that the use of antidepressants during pregnancy has a significant impact on the development of the child’s brain and affects the formation of connections in the prefrontal cortex. This region plays an important role in complex cognitive functions. The study was published in the scientific journal magazine Nature Communications (NatComms).
The experts’ conclusions are based on experiments in newborn rodents and provide a better understanding of the role of serotonin, an important neurotransmitter whose level regulation is the basis for drug treatment of depressive disorders.
The researchers chose mice because critical stages of brain development in these animals are similar to humans. The subjects were given the common antidepressant fluoxetine, better known by the brand name Prozac.
According to previous studies, fluoxetine can enter the baby’s body through the placenta before birth and through breast milk after birth.
Tests showed that as the level of serotonin in the brain increased, the density and strength of synapses in the prefrontal cortex increased, while the opposite effect was observed in case of neurotransmitter deficiency. In mice, fluoxetine stopped affecting brain development three weeks after birth.
“Our study reveals specific mechanisms at the synaptic level that explain how serotonin may promote prefrontal cortex development during early-life exposure to fluoxetine,” said study author and Associate Professor Won Chang Oh.
Scientists emphasized that the long-term effects of stimulating brain development in newborns while taking antidepressants are still unclear and further research is needed.
happened before knownA mother’s emotional well-being impacts a child’s healthy brain development.