PRENATAL LORAZEPAM EXPOSURE .4. PERSISTENT ALTERATIONS IN PENTYLENETETRAZOLE-INDUCED SEIZURE THRESHOLD AND GABA-DEPENDENT CHLORIDE UPTAKE AFTER PRENATAL LORAZEPAM EXPOSURE

Prenatal benzodiazepine exposure is associated with behavioral and neu rochemical alterations in the early postnatal period. To determine the persistence of these effects, we evaluated pentylenetetrazole-induced seizure threshhold and GABA-dependent chloride uptake in mice at 6 an d 12 months of age after prenatal lorazepam exposure. Seizure threshho ld was reduced after acute lorazepam pretreatment in mice exposed to l orazepam prenatally, compared to control groups, at 6 and 12 months of age. Maximal GABA-dependent chloride uptake was also reduced in expos ed mice at 6 and 12 months of age. These data indicate that behavioral and neurochemical alterations persist well into maturity after prenat al lorazepam exposure.