ABSTRACT
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. 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 micro M for 30 min]. The evoked PS was recorded from pyramidal layer of CA1 area, following stimulation of Schaffer collaterals. A concentration of 10 micro M bupropion had no significant effects on the PS amplitude. The 50 micro M concentration of bupropion reduced the amplitude of responses in 50% of the studied cases. At a concentration of 200 micro M, 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 micro M bupropion. The results showed the perinatal exposure to bupropion and its acute effects while indicating that at concentrations of 50 and 200 micro M 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 micro M