Developmental toxicity of terbutaline: critical periods for sex-selective effects on macromolecules and DNA synthesis in rat brain, heart, and liver.
Journal Article (Journal Article)
beta-Adrenoceptors (betaARs) control cell replication/differentiation, and during development, signaling is not subject to desensitization. We examined the effects of terbutaline, a beta(2)AR agonist used as a tocolytic, on development in rat brain regions and peripheral tissues with high betaAR concentrations. Prenatal terbutaline (gestational days 17-20) decreased cell numbers (DNA content) in the fetal brain and liver. Early postnatal exposure (PN2-5) reduced DNA synthesis in early-developing brain regions of females, with sensitization of the effect upon repeated terbutaline administration; after multiple terbutaline injections, DNA content was reduced in male cerebellum. The cerebellum was targeted later (PN11-14), exhibiting decreased DNA synthesis in both sexes; in contrast, cardiac DNA synthesis decreased after one injection but increased after the fourth daily injection. Our results suggest that excessive betaAR stimulation by terbutaline alters cell development in brain regions and peripheral tissues, with the net effect depending on sex and the timing of exposure. These effects may contribute to neuropsychiatric, cognitive, cardiovascular, and metabolic abnormalities reported in the offspring of women treated with beta-agonist tocolytics.
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Garofolo, MC; Seidler, FJ; Cousins, MM; Tate, CA; Qiao, D; Slotkin, TA
Published Date
- January 15, 2003
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 59 / 4
Start / End Page
- 319 - 329
PubMed ID
- 12464406
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
- 0361-9230
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1016/s0361-9230(02)00925-5
Language
- eng
Conference Location
- United States