Perturbations in cortical development and neuronal network excitability arising from prenatal exposure to benzodiazepines in mice

Matilda Haas; Zhengdong Qu; Tae Hwan Kim; Ernesto Vargas; Kenneth Campbell; Steven Petrou; Seong-Seng Tan; Christopher A Reid; Julian Heng

Journal article

Perturbations in cortical development and neuronal network excitability arising from prenatal exposure to benzodiazepines in mice

Matilda Haas, Zhengdong Qu, Tae Hwan Kim, Ernesto Vargas, Kenneth Campbell, Steven Petrou, Seong-Seng Tan, Christopher A Reid, Julian Heng

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE | WILEY-BLACKWELL | Published : 2013

DOI: 10.1111/ejn.12167

Abstract

During brain development, many factors influence the assembly and final positioning of cortical neurons, and this process is essential for proper circuit formation and normal brain function. Among many important extrinsic factors that guide the maturation of embryonic cortical neurons, the secreted neurotransmitter GABA has been proposed to influence both their migratory behaviour and their terminal differentiation. The full extent of the short-term and long-term changes in brain patterning and function caused by modulators of the GABA system is not known. In this study, we specifically investigated whether diazepam, a commonly used benzodiazepine that modulates the GABAA receptor, alters ne..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Steven Petrou Author Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health

Seong Tan Author Anatomy and Physiology

Christopher Reid Author Medicine - Austin Health

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Awarded by National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia [NHMRC]

Awarded by Australian Research Council

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Funding Acknowledgements

The Florey Neuroscience Institutes are supported by Victorian State government infrastructure funds. The Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute is supported by grants from the State Government of Victoria and the Australian Government. This study was supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia [NH&MRC, Grant numbers 400121 (S. Petrou) and 628520 (C. A. Reid)]. C. A. Reid was also supported by an Australian Future Fellowship, Australian Research Council (#FT0990628). J. Heng is supported by an NH&MRC Career Development Fellowship (ID: 1011505), and a Monash Fellowship. We thank Professor Leonid Churilov for advice on statistical analysis, and Ms Caroline Roberts for technical assistance. The authors declare no conflict of interest.