The Influence of Prenatal SSRI Use on Fetal Brain Development

Poortman, Isa (2020) The Influence of Prenatal SSRI Use on Fetal Brain Development. Bachelor's Thesis, Biology.

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Abstract

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) medications are the most common antidepressant treatment used during pregnancy. Up to 2-3% of the pregnant women are prescribed SSRIs. Serotonin plays an important part in brain development, and questions have been raised about the placental transfer of SSRIs and the effects of preventing reuptake of presynaptic serotonin on fetal brain development. Preclinical studies report structural deformations of dendritic structures and a repulsive response from the thalamic axons to netrin-1, both caused by premature SSRI exposure. Elevated 5-HT concentrations also cause malformations in immature oligodendrocytes and in myelin sheaths. Furthermore, SSRI exposure during development affects plasticity which influences behaviour. It is important to understand that a lot of studies are done in healthy rodents and not in rodents showing depression-like behaviours. In addition, some studies give SSRI treatment during a time of rodent neural development that is corresponding to SSRI exposure of foetuses during third trimester. At this point, the primary construction of the brain is already completed. In humans, developmental outcomes of SSRI exposure after gestation remain largely unstudied. Therefore, the effects of SSRI use during whole pregnancy needs to be further investigated to identify the potential risks on fetal brain development.

Item Type:	Thesis (Bachelor's Thesis)
Supervisor name:	Olivier, J.D.A.
Degree programme:	Biology
Thesis type:	Bachelor's Thesis
Language:	English
Date Deposited:	22 Jul 2020 10:04
Last Modified:	22 Jul 2020 10:04
URI:	https://fse.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/22833

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