Peri-Conceptionnal Exposure to Sulphonamide Antibiotic Increases Anxiety and Reduces Social Interactions in Wistar Rat Offpring

Background:  There is a growing body of evidence that gut microbiota characteristics might be closely related to mental dysfunctions. However, no studies are available on maternal gut microbiota and fetal brain development, despite large use of antibiotics in obstetric practice. 

Objectives:  To determine how periconceptional exposure to SuccinySulfaThiazole (SST), a non-absorbable antibiotic, can affect behavior in rat offspring.

Methods:  Females Wistar rats were divided in two groups: control, or exposed during one month before breeding until Gestational Day 15 to a diet containing 1% SST. Behavioral tests were then administered to offspring: nest-seeking behavior, open field, marble burying, elevated plus maze, and test of social interactions.

Results:  Both males and females offspring exposed peri-conceptionnally to SST showed reduced social interactions. Male offspring showed altered olfactory discrimination of maternal odour in the nest-seeking behavior test and reduced exploration of the open arm in the elevated plus maze test. 

Conclusions:  Periconceptionnal exposure to SST provoke alterations in offspring’s behavior without any maternal infection, and given the fact SST is a non-absorbable antibiotic, we speculate that these neurobehavioral alterations are related to gut microbiota alterations.