Psychotropic Drugs as Behavioral Teratogens

TLDR

Three psychotropic drugs were administered to pregnant rats and the offspring were evaluated for behavioral and reproductive effects, with control animals receiving saline or vitamin A. Prochlorperazine caused the greatest reproductive and growth disruption yet the fewest behavioral changes; propoxyphene had no reproductive impact but induced diverse behavioral alterations; fenfluramine produced intermediate reproductive effects and behavioral changes detectable only in preweaning tests, underscoring that behavioral assessments provide critical data beyond traditional reproductive toxicity endpoints.

Abstract

Three psychotropic drugs were administered to pregnant rats and were then evaluated for their behavioral and reproductive effects in the offspring. Control rats received either saline or vitamin A. Prochlorperazine had the most disruptive effects on reproduction and growth, but had the least effect on behavior. Propoxyphene had no apparent effects on reproduction or growth, but produced a variety of behavioral changes. Fenfluramine was intermediate in its effects on reproduction and growth and had behavioral effects that were revealed in tests of preweaning development. The data suggest that systematic tests of behavior add important information to evaluations of reproductive toxicity that cannot, at present, be obtained by other means.