Prenatal desvenlafaxine induced behavioural alterations in Swiss albino mice

BACKGROUND: Desvenlafaxine is used as an antidepressant and acts by inhibiting reuptake of serotonin and nor-adrenaline. PURPOSE: The safety profile of desvenlafaxine has not yet been established during pregnancy, so we planned this study to see the behavioral changes in pups of mice who received desvenlafaxine during gestational period. METHODS: Swiss albino mice were used for the present study. The treated group was given desvenlafaxine orally in the dose of 80 mg/kg from 1(st) to 6(th) day of gestation and other group was given tap water by same route. RESULTS: Desvenlafaxine treated mice in group 2, i.e. for the gestation period 1–6 showed increased activity and decrease anxiety in open field and elevated plus maze test as compared to control. However, after chronic exposure for the duration of 18 days the offspring showed increased anxiety and fearfulness as compared to controls. CONCLUSION: Above findings suggest that desvenlafaxine have a deleterious effect on brain development, thus resulting in abnormal anxiety states, possibly through altering uptake of serotonin and nor-epinephrine.