Prenatal exposure to methylazoxymethanol acetate in the rat alters neurotrophin levels and behavior: considerations for neurodevelopmental diseases

We did a single injection of methylazoxymethanol acetate (MAM) in pregnant rats on gestational day (GD) 11 or 12 to investigate the long-lasting effec ts of early entorhinal cortex (EC) and hippocampus maldevelopment on behavi or, brain nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor ( BDNF) levels, and the neurotrophin receptor p75 and choline acetyltransfera se (ChAT) immunoreactivity. Adult animals treated with MAM had compromised EC development and showed changes in locomotion and displacement activities . In addition, rats treated on GD 12 had increased concentration of NGF and BDNF in the EC and hippocampus if compared to control rats. Prenatal MAM a dministration did not affect significantly p75 and ChAT distribution in the EC and septum. Results are discussed in reference to the neurodevelopmenta l hypothesis of psychiatric disorders. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc. All r ights reserved.