Single prenatal haloperidol exposure induces altered anxiety patterns in rats

One group of adult pregnant C-F rats were treated with single high dose of haloperidol (50 mg/kg ip) and another control group treated with equal volu me of vehicle on gestation day 12-this being the critical period of brain d evelopment in this species. Rat offsprings at 8-9 weeks of age subjected to behavioral testings of anxiety status in an open-field arena and on elevat ed plus-maze. These rats induces a significant increased open-field ambulat ion, rearing and faecal droppings whereas they spent more time and more num ber of entries in enclosed arms on elevated plus-maze than controls thus, i ndicating anxiogenic behavioral patterns. The present results suggest that prenatal single exposure of HAL on GD12 leaves a long lasting imprint on of fsprings resulting in hyper-emotional responsiveness and anxiety state.