SSRI Effect on Cranial Base Development in a Mouse Model

Objectives: The prevalence of antidepressants in the United States, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), has increased in the recent decade from 10.6% to 13.8%. Commonly, patients in the adolescent age bracket and pregnant women are prescribed these medications for a variety of psychosocial issues. The effects of SSRIs and other antidepressants on developing structures of the human body are largely unknown. Since SSRIs have been noted to affect cellular processes in bone and cartilage development, the cranial base synchondroses may be at risk. This study aims to elucidate the possible effects that SSRIs have on this development and subsequent formation of craniofacial features.
Methods: Wild type C57BL6 mice were used to produce litters that were exposed in utero to an SSRI, Citalopram (500 µg/day). μCT images were obtained on P15 skulls using a SkyScan 1176 (Bruker Kartuizerseg 3B, 2550 Kontich, Belgium) scanner. Scans were collected on 50 animals. Murine cranium μCT images from P15 pups were analyzed using AnalyzePro software to assess changes in cephalometrics and cranial base synchondroses.
Results: Cephalometric analysis indicated an overall morphological change with shortened cranium length in the exposed group compared to control (P = 0.013). The spheno-occipital synchondrosis (SOS) showed morphological changes in width, height, and AP length with width and height shortened in the exposed group and AP length expanded in the exposed group (P = 0.003, P = 0.016, P = 0.009 respectively). The intersphenoidal synchondrosis (ISS) showed changes in width and AP length with width shortened in the exposed group and AP length expanded in the exposed group (P = 0.017, P < 0.001 respectively).
Conclusions: The results of this analysis indicate an effect of SSRI exposure on the development of the cranial base and thereby developing structures of the calvaria and murine face. These findings are imperative in the fields of orthodontics and oral and maxillofacial surgery as SSRI exposed patients may require intervention.