Prenatal exposure to SKF-38393 alters the response to light of adult rats

The current study examined the consequences of prenatal SKF-38393 exposure on the cellular response in the adult suprachiasmatic nuclei to light. Preg nant rats were injected with the dopamine agonist SKF-38393 or vehicle dail y from gestational day 15 to 21. Adult offspring received a light pulse (1 min/2 lux) 4 or 8 h after lights off (ZT16 or ZT20 where ZT = zeitgeber tim e). Brains were processed for c-FOS-like immunoreactivity in the SCN. At ZT 20 the number of cells expressing c-FOS protein after a light pulse was the same in both groups. At ZT16 the number of cells in the SCN of SKF-38393-e xposed animals was 58% lower than the vehicle-treated group. The data sugge st that prenatal SKF-38393 treatment may have long-term consequences for SC N function. NeuroReport 11:1539-1541 (C) 2000 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins .