Skip to main content
Dryad

Prenatal treatment with the antidepressant fluoxetine on maternal and neonatal behavior in sheep

Data files

Jan 03, 2025 version files 16.73 KB

Abstract

Background: Fluoxetine is commonly prescribed to treat depression during pregnancy. We aimed to evaluate the effects of prenatal fluoxetine exposure on maternal-offspring behavior in a non-depressed sheep model.

Methods: On day 119 ± 1 of a 151-day expected gestation, Hampshire ewes were randomly assigned to receive intravenous fluoxetine (10 mg/kg for the first two days and 5 mg/kg daily thereafter until parturition) or a control vehicle. Video was recorded of 8 fluoxetine-treated ewes and 10 control ewes for 2 hours before and after parturition.

Results: Fluoxetine did not alter dam behavior during the peripartum period, including time spent lying before the first birth, lying bout duration, probability of needing birth assistance, duration of birth assistance when provided, and time spent touching her lambs. However, in utero exposure impaired neonatal vigor as lambs spent less time standing and tended to spend less time nursing compared to unexposed lambs.

Conclusion: Neonatal behavioral impairments are consistent with those associated with fluoxetine exposure during human gestation. This effect appears to be independent of maternal behavior, which was unaffected by antidepressant use.