Prenatal exposure to escitalopram and/or stress in rats: a prenatal stress model of maternal depression and its treatment.

Rationale: A rigorously investigated model of stress and antidepressant administration during pregnancy is needed to evaluate possible effects on the mother.

Objective: The objective of this study was to develop a model of clinically relevant prenatal exposure to an antidepressant and stress during pregnancy to evaluate the effects on maternal care behavior.

Results: Female rats implanted with 28-day osmotic minipumps delivering the SSRI escitalopram throughout pregnancy had serum escitalopram concentrations in a clinically observed range (17-65 ng/ml).