Neonatal Exposure to Fenoterol and Betamethasone: Effects on the Behavioral Development in the Rat

Abstract

We investigated longitudinally the behavioral development in the rat following exposure to β-agonists and glucocorticoids (GC). Neonatal rats received either 1 mg/kg fenoterol (FEN), 0.3 mg/kg betamethasone (BET), or saline (SAL). Weanling and young adult rats were tested in the open field, the elevated-plus maze, and the water maze. FEN-treated as well as BET-treated animals displayed increased anxiety-like behavior. Furthermore, BET-treated adult animals showed a reduced locomotor activity. An enhanced 24-h memory in the water maze in both treatment groups may be facilitated by emotional arousal due to the increased anxiety levels. The possible neurobiological underpinnings are discussed in detail.

Keywords:

• β-Agonists
• cognition
• development
• emotionality
• glucocorticoids
• rat