Prenatal exposure to modafinil alters locomotor behaviour and leucocyte phagocytosis in mice
Language English Country Croatia Media print
Document type Journal Article
- MeSH
- Phagocytosis drug effects MeSH
- Gestational Age MeSH
- Leukocytes drug effects MeSH
- Locomotion drug effects MeSH
- Luminescent Measurements MeSH
- Luminol MeSH
- Modafinil adverse effects MeSH
- Disease Models, Animal * MeSH
- Mice, Inbred ICR MeSH
- Mice MeSH
- Pregnancy MeSH
- Age Factors MeSH
- Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects * MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Check Tag
- Male MeSH
- Mice MeSH
- Pregnancy MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Names of Substances
- Luminol MeSH
- Modafinil MeSH
BACKGROUND: Modafinil is a psychostimulant drug prescribed mainly for treatment of narcolepsy but is used as a "smart drug" by wide populations to increase wakefulness, concentration and overall mental performance. The aim of this study was to assess potential developmental toxicity of modafinil. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pregnant female mice were given either saline or modafinil (50 mg/kg orally) from gestational day (GD) 3 to GD 10 and then a challenge dose on the GD 17. The male offspring were treated analogously at the age of 10 weeks. Changes in the spontaneous locomotor/exploratory behaviour and anxiogenic profile in the open-field test were assessed in naive animals, after an acute and 8th modafinil dose and the challenge dose following a 7-day wash-out period. One month after completion of the behavioural study, the leukocyte phagocytosis was examined by zymosan induced and luminol-aided chemiluminiscence assay in vitro. RESULTS: The most important finding of this study was the immunosuppressing effect on leukocyte activity, hypolocomotion and increased behavioural response to modafinil-induced psychostimulation caused by prenatal exposure to the same drug. We did not detect significantly altered anxiety-related behaviour in any group disregarding the pre- and postnatal treatments. CONCLUSION: This is the first evidence of developmental toxicity of modafinil which needs to be taken into account as a potential risk factor when modafinil is administered to women who may become or are pregnant.
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