Increased miR132 Gene Expression Associated with Prenatal Lithium Exposure in Rat Offspring

Background and Aim: The use of lithium, a mood-stabilizing drug, is a common treatment for bipolar disorder. Discontinuing lithium during pregnancy can be dangerous, as it may cause manic or severe depression in the mother. Despite the positive effects of lithium, it is important to study the molecular effects of this drug on infants. This study aims to investigate the expression of the miR-132 gene in the neonates of rats whose mothers were exposed to lithium during pregnancy. Materials and Methods: In this study, experimental female mice received lithium carbonate at a concentration of 30mg/kg in their drinking water daily during pregnancy. The newborns were then divided into two control and experimental groups. When the neonates reached 60 days of age, their hippocampus and blood serum were isolated for molecular analysis. Total RNA was extracted from the blood and serum, followed by cDNA synthesis. The expression of miR-132 was evaluated using qRT-PCR and compared with the control group using the Pfaffl method. Results: The expression of miR-132 in the hippocampal tissue and serum samples of infants whose mothers received lithium during pregnancy showed a significant decrease compared to the control group. The down-regulation of miR-132 expression was observed to be more pronounced in serum samples compared to hippocampal tissue samples. Conclusion: The decreased expression of miR-132 in the hippocampus and blood serum of newborn rats exposed to lithium during pregnancy indicates the influence of lithium on gene expression. This miRNA showed potential as a valuable indicator for detecting the effects of drug exposure on offspring. However, identifying specific miRNA markers for bipolar disorder is a challenging quest, and further studies are required.