Effect of prenatal alprazolam exposure on anxiety patterns in rat offspring.

Prenatal alprazolam (APZ) treatment in 0.1 and 0.2 mg/kg/day doses during 13-20 days of gestation induced significant increase in open-field ambulation, rearings, self-grooming and faecal pellets in rat offspring. Prenatal APZ treated rats displayed significantly increased anxiogenic behaviour on elevated plus maze (spent less time on open arms, more time on enclosed arms and made less number of entries on open arms) and increased anxiogenecity on elevated zero maz e(APZ treated rats spent less time on open arms and made less number of head dips and stretched attend postures in comparison to control rat offspring). The results indicate persistent behavioural alterations in the rat offspring after prenatal exposure to APZ.