Effects of Long Term Perinatal Treatment of Bupropion on LTP in Neonatal Rat Hippocampus Slices

The perinatal effects of antidepressants on the central nervous system (CNS) due to its common usage are important issues in neuroscience researches. Bupropion is an atypical antidepressant that is widely used for smoking cessation. The study of synaptic effects of bupropion can reveal its mechanism for nicotine dependence cessation. In this study the effects of long term administration bupropion during perinatal period on synaptic plasticity (Long Term Potentiating or LTP) in neonatal hippocampus slices were evaluated. Hippocampus slices from 19-25 day old rat pups by using standard brain slices techniques were prepared. Slices preparation were accomplished from three groups, control, normal saline and bupropion-treated (40 mg/Kg, i.p) according to maternal perinatal treatments. To produce LTP, the PB stimulation paradigm was applied and evoked responses were recorded from strata pyramidal of area CA1 following stimulation of Schaffer collaterals. Analysis of data showed that LTP induction parameter (PS amplitude) between normal saline and control groups had no significant difference, however there were significant difference between control and treated groups p<0.05, as well as normal saline and treated groups p <0.01. Long term perinatal administration of bupropion decreased induction and maintenance of LTP in strata pyramidal of area CA1. It seems that the loss of LTP maintenance in bupropion-treated animals is more likely the result of the disruption of cellular processes that they contribute following LTP induction.