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3041987 
Journal Article 
Neurobehavior effects in four strains of mice offspring exposed prenatally to alprazolam (Xanax and Ntilde;) 
Rayburn, W; Christensen, D; Gonzalez, C 
2001 
Yes 
American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology
ISSN: 0002-9378
EISSN: 1097-6868 
DART/TER/2000463 
185 
6 Pt 2 
English 
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether prenatal exposure to alprazolam, the most commonly taken benzodiazepine, affects offspring from different strains of mice. STUDY DESIGN: Eight to 11 gravid mice of the C3H/He, C57BL/6, A/J, and DBA/2 strains were given 0.32 mg/kg of alprazolam or a placebo containing 3.2% propylene glycol by gavage on day 18 of a 20-day gestation. This dose induced an anxiolytic effect without sedation in the gravid mice of three strains. Neurobehavior tasks were conducted to assess anxiety, motor skills, learning and memory, and social interaction. Statistical effects of alprazolam were determined by ANOVA or Fisher exact tests. RESULTS: Anxiety in alprazolam-exposed offspring was reduced in C3H/He (P less than .002) and A/J (P less than .05) newborns and was increased in the C3H/He adult strain on the plus maze task. Locomotion and homing showed no drug-induced intrastrain effects. C57BL/6 alprazolam-exposed mice had persistent hind limb difficulties (P less than .05) as evidenced by impairments on negative geotaxis, coordination, dexterity, and rotorod task performances. Learning was slower among C57BL/6 mice exposed to alprazolam (P less than .01), while memory was reduced in exposed A/J offspring (P less than .05). More individual play (P less than .02) and more male aggression (P less than .03) were displayed by C57BL/6 offspring exposed to alprazolam. CONCLUSION: Behaviors were altered in several mouse strains after prenatal exposure to alprazolam. GABA-BDZ receptor subtype formation may be vulnerable to alprazolam in fetal brain development.