Paroxetine is effective in desensitizing 5-HT1A receptor function in adult offspring exposed prenatally to cocaine

Rationale Desensitization of postsynaptic 5-HT1A receptors may be responsible for the therapeutic effectiveness of serotonin selective uptake inhibitors (SSRIs). As prenatal cocaine exposure produces long-term deficits in 5-HT neurons in offspring, it may alter the ability of postsynaptic 5-HT1A receptors to be desensitized by chronic paroxetine.