"Parents Might Pass the Effects of Prozac on to Future Generations" – Katherine J. Wu
There are few relationships more biologically intimate than the one between a mammalian mother-to-be and her growing fetus. But the dialogue of pregnancy can be a double-edged sword. All sorts of chemicals easily traverse the placental barrier, and antidepressants are no exception. Researchers have unveiled an unexpected ally in their search for understanding: a striped, diminutive minnow called a zebrafish. According to a new study published in PNAS, developing zebrafish embryos exposed to the active ingredient of Prozac and less equipped to cope with stress later in life – and these effects are passed on through future generations. While the results have yet to be repeated in human populations, they may prompt a shift in our outlook on the prescription of antidepressants during this vulnerable period. In the meantime, studies like these are essential for generating awareness, said Veerle Bergink, MD, PhD, professor of psychiatry, obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive science at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, who was not involved in the new find. “These findings show clearly that this is a topic that warrants further investigation in humans,” she adds. “We need to have these discussions. It’s a medical issue, but it’s also a societal issue.”
— Veerle Bergink, MD, PhD, Professor, Psychiatry, Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Science, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai