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Placental Transport and Metabolism: Implications for the Developmental Effects of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI) Antidepressants

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Prenatal and Postnatal Determinants of Development

Part of the book series: Neuromethods ((NM,volume 109))

Abstract

A host of neurodevelopmental processes are modulated by serotonin (5-HT), a molecule also implicated in the etiology of diverse psychiatric disorders. Prenatal exposures that affect serotonergic signaling and the developing 5-HT system are increasingly associated with multiple long-term repercussions for the offspring. Both maternal depression and antidepressant treatments have been shown to affect fetal neurodevelopment during pregnancy, possibly through alterations of 5-HT levels that are otherwise precisely set by placental and endogenous sources. The result of such dysregulation impacts a variety of critical signaling pathways, and eventually leads to long-term effects on postnatal brain function. This chapter provides investigators with details of recently developed methods that can be applied to the study of how maternal–fetal transfer of therapeutic drugs, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), cross the placenta and impact fetal brain circuit development.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine of USC, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089-2821, USA

    Juan C. Velasquez & Alexandre Bonnin

  2. USC Neuroscience Graduate Program, Keck School of Medicine of USC, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089-2821, USA

    Juan C. Velasquez

  3. Department of Cell & Neurobiology, Keck School of Medicine of USC, University of Southern California, 1501 San Pablo Street, Room 429, Los Angeles, CA, 90089-2821, USA

    Alexandre Bonnin

Authors
  1. Juan C. Velasquez
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  2. Alexandre Bonnin
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Correspondence to Alexandre Bonnin .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Monash Medical Centre, The Ritchie Centre, Melbourne, Australia

    David W. Walker

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Velasquez, J.C., Bonnin, A. (2016). Placental Transport and Metabolism: Implications for the Developmental Effects of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI) Antidepressants. In: Walker, D. (eds) Prenatal and Postnatal Determinants of Development. Neuromethods, vol 109. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-3014-2_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-3014-2_12

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-3013-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-3014-2

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