Effects of administration of perinatal bupropion on the population spike amplitude in neonatal rat hippocampal slices

Bupropion is an atypical antidepressant that is widely used in smoke cessation under FDA approval. The
study of synaptic effects of bupropion can help to finding out its mechanism(s) for stopping nicotine
dependence. In this study the effects of perinatal bupropion on the population spike (PS) amplitude of
neonates were investigated.
Materials and Methods
Hippocampal slices were prepared from 18-25 days old rat pups. The experimental groups included control
and bupropion-treated. Bupropion (40 mg/Kg, i.p.) was applied daily in perinatal period as pre-treatment. Due
to the studying acute effects, bupropion was also added to the perfusion medium (10, 50, 200 μM for 30 min).
The evoked PS was recorded from pyramidal layer of CA1 area, following stimulation of Schaffer collaterals.
Results
A concentration of 10 μM bupropion had no significant effects on the PS amplitude. The 50 μM concentration
of bupropion reduced the amplitude of responses in 50% of the studied cases. At a concentration of 200 μM,
the recorded PS amplitudes were reduced in all slices (n= 22). Amplitude was completely abolished in 8 out
of the 22 slices. The decrease of the PS amplitude was found to be more in the non-pre-treated slices than in
the pre-treated slices when both were perfused with 200 μM bupropion.
Conclusion
The results showed the perinatal exposure to bupropion and its acute effects while indicating that at
concentrations of 50 and 200 μM bupropion reduced the PS amplitude. It was also found that there was
evidence of synaptic adaptation in comparison of bupropion-treated and non-treated slices whereas they were
both perfused with 200 μM