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Martz J, Shelton MA, Geist L, Seney ML, Kentner AC. Sex differences in offspring risk and resilience following 11β-hydroxylase antagonism in a rodent model of maternal immune activation. Neuropsychopharmacology 2024; 49:1078-1090. [PMID: 38007547 PMCID: PMC11109257 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-023-01771-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 10/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/27/2023]
Abstract
Maternal immune activation (MIA) puts offspring at greater risk for neurodevelopmental disorders associated with impaired social behavior. While it is known that immune signaling through maternal, placental, and fetal compartments contributes to these phenotypical changes, it is unknown to what extent the stress response to illness is involved and how it can be harnessed for potential interventions. To this end, on gestational day 15, pregnant rat dams were administered the bacterial mimetic lipopolysaccharide (LPS; to induce MIA) alongside metyrapone, a clinically available 11β-hydroxylase (11βHSD) inhibitor used to treat hypercortisolism in pregnant, lactating, and neonatal populations. Maternal, placental, and fetal brain levels of corticosterone and placental 11βHSD enzymes type 1 and 2 were measured 3-hrs post treatment. Offspring social behaviors were evaluated across critical phases of development. MIA was associated with increased maternal, placental, and fetal brain corticosterone concentrations that were diminished with metyrapone exposure. Metyrapone protected against reductions in placental 11βHSD2 in males only, suggesting that less corticosterone was inactivated in female placentas. Behaviorally, metyrapone-exposure attenuated MIA-induced social disruptions in juvenile, adolescent, and adult males, while females were unaffected or performed worse. Metyrapone-exposure reversed MIA-induced transcriptional changes in monoamine-, glutamate-, and GABA-related genes in adult male ventral hippocampus, but not in females. Taken together, these findings illustrate that MIA-induced HPA responses act alongside the immune system to produce behavioral deficits. As a clinically available drug, the sex-specific benefits and constraints of metyrapone should be investigated further as a potential means of reducing neurodevelopmental risks due to gestational MIA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Martz
- School of Arts & Sciences, Health Psychology Program, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Micah A Shelton
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, 450 Technology Drive, Pittsburgh, PA, 15219, USA
| | - Laurel Geist
- School of Arts & Sciences, Health Psychology Program, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Marianne L Seney
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, 450 Technology Drive, Pittsburgh, PA, 15219, USA
| | - Amanda C Kentner
- School of Arts & Sciences, Health Psychology Program, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
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2
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Sze Y, Brunton PJ. How is prenatal stress transmitted from the mother to the fetus? J Exp Biol 2024; 227:jeb246073. [PMID: 38449331 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.246073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
Prenatal stress programmes long-lasting neuroendocrine and behavioural changes in the offspring. Often this programming is maladaptive and sex specific. For example, using a rat model of maternal social stress in late pregnancy, we have demonstrated that adult prenatally stressed male, but not prenatally stressed female offspring display heightened anxiety-like behaviour, whereas both sexes show hyperactive hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis responses to stress. Here, we review the current knowledge of the mechanisms underpinning dysregulated HPA axis responses, including evidence supporting a role for reduced neurosteroid-mediated GABAergic inhibitory signalling in the brains of prenatally stressed offspring. How maternal psychosocial stress is signalled from the mother to the fetuses is unclear. Direct transfer of maternal glucocorticoids to the fetuses is often considered to mediate the programming effects of maternal stress on the offspring. However, protective mechanisms including attenuated maternal stress responses and placental 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-2 (which inactivates glucocorticoids) should limit materno-fetal glucocorticoid transfer during pregnancy. Moreover, a lack of correlation between maternal stress, circulating maternal glucocorticoid levels and circulating fetal glucocorticoid levels is reported in several studies and across different species. Therefore, here we interrogate the evidence for a role for maternal glucocorticoids in mediating the effects of maternal stress on the offspring and consider the evidence for alternative mechanisms, including an indirect role for glucocorticoids and the contribution of changes in the placenta in signalling the stress status of the mother to the fetus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Sze
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, Hugh Robson Building, University of Edinburgh, George Square, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK
| | - Paula J Brunton
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, Hugh Robson Building, University of Edinburgh, George Square, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK
- Zhejiang University-University of Edinburgh Joint Institute, Haining, Zhejiang 314400, P.R. China
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3
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Yang X, Geng F. Corticotropin-releasing factor signaling and its potential role in the prefrontal cortex-dependent regulation of anxiety. J Neurosci Res 2023; 101:1781-1794. [PMID: 37592912 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.25238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 04/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/06/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
A large body of literature has highlighted the significance of the corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) system in the regulation of neuropsychiatric diseases. Anxiety disorders are among the most common neuropsychiatric disorders. An increasing number of studies have demonstrated that the CRF family mediates and regulates the development and maintenance of anxiety. Thus, the CRF family is considered to be a potential target for the treatment of anxiety disorders. The prefrontal cortex (PFC) plays a role in the occurrence and development of anxiety, and both CRF and CRF-R1 are widely expressed in the PFC. This paper begins by reviewing CRF-related signaling pathways and their different roles in anxiety and related processes. Then, the role of the CRF system in other neuropsychiatric diseases is reviewed and the potential role of PFC CRF signaling in the regulation of anxiety disorders is discussed. Although other signaling pathways are potentially involved in the process of anxiety, CRF in the PFC primarily modulates anxiety disorders through the activation of corticotropin-releasing factor type1 receptors (CRF-R1) and the excitation of the cAMP/PKA signaling pathway. Moreover, the main signaling pathways of CRF involved in sex differentiation in the PFC appear to be different. In summary, this review suggests that the CRF system in the PFC plays a critical role in the occurrence of anxiety. Thus, CRF signaling is of great significance as a potential target for the treatment of stress-related disorders in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Yang
- Department of Physiology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
- Department of Transfusion Medicine, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Fei Geng
- Department of Physiology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Immunopathology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
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4
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Wang X, Sun Z, Yang T, Lin F, Ye S, Yan J, Li T, Chen J. Sodium butyrate facilitates CRHR2 expression to alleviate HPA axis hyperactivity in autism-like rats induced by prenatal lipopolysaccharides through histone deacetylase inhibition. mSystems 2023; 8:e0041523. [PMID: 37358267 PMCID: PMC10469781 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00415-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs, especially butyric acid) have been demonstrated to play a promising role in the development of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Recently, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is also suggested to increase the risk of ASD. However, the mechanism underlying SCFAs and HPA axis in ASD development remains unknown. Here, we show that children with ASD exhibited lower SCFA concentrations and higher cortisol levels, which were recaptured in prenatal lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-exposed rat model of ASD. These offspring also showed decreased SCFA-producing bacteria and histone acetylation activity as well as impaired corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor 2 (CRHR2) expression. Sodium butyrate (NaB), which can act as histone deacetylases inhibitors, significantly increased histone acetylation at the CRHR2 promoter in vitro and normalized the corticosterone as well as CRHR2 expression level in vivo. Behavioral assays indicated ameliorative effects of NaB on anxiety and social deficit in LPS-exposed offspring. Our results imply that NaB treatment can improve ASD-like symptoms via epigenetic regulation of the HPA axis in offspring; thus, it may provide new insight into the SCFA treatment of neurodevelopmental disorders like ASD. IMPORTANCE Growing evidence suggests that microbiota can affect brain function and behavior through the "microbiome-gut-brain'' axis, but its mechanism remains poorly understood. Here, we show that both children with autism and LPS-exposed rat model of autism exhibited lower SCFA concentrations and overactivation of HPA axis. SCFA-producing bacteria, Lactobacillus, might be the key differential microbiota between the control and LPS-exposed offspring. Interestingly, NaB treatment contributed to the regulation of HPA axis (such as corticosterone as well as CRHR2) and improvement of anxiety and social deficit behaviors in LPS-exposed offspring. The potential underlying mechanism of the ameliorative effect of NaB may be mediated via increasing histone acetylation to the CRHR2 promoter. These results enhance our understanding of the relationship between the SCFAs and the HPA axis in the development of ASD. And gut microbiota-derived SCFAs may serve as a potential therapeutic agent to neurodevelopmental disorders like ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyuan Wang
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Childhood Nutrition and Health, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Chongqing, China
| | - Zhujun Sun
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Childhood Nutrition and Health, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Chongqing, China
| | - Ting Yang
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Childhood Nutrition and Health, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Chongqing, China
| | - Fang Lin
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Childhood Nutrition and Health, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Chongqing, China
| | - Shasha Ye
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Childhood Nutrition and Health, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Chongqing, China
| | - Junyan Yan
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Childhood Nutrition and Health, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Chongqing, China
| | - Tingyu Li
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Childhood Nutrition and Health, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Chongqing, China
| | - Jie Chen
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Childhood Nutrition and Health, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Chongqing, China
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Zhang F, Zhou J, Zhang S, Qin X, Li P, Tao F, Huang K. Impact of pregnancy-related anxiety on preschoolers' emotional and behavioral development: Gender specificity, critical time windows and cumulative effect. J Affect Disord 2023; 323:176-184. [PMID: 36471547 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2022.11.085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Studies on the gender-specific effect of PrA on children's emotional and behavioral development are limited. Lack of PrA data on the entire pregnancy had caused difficulties in identifying the key time window and cumulative effects. METHODS Based on Ma'anshan Birth Cohort in China, mothers at pregnancy and children followed up to 4 years of age were tested using the PrA questionnaire and the Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) 1.5-5. Finally, 1699 mother-child pairs were included in the study and regression models were developed for analysis. RESULTS Children of mothers with PrA are at significantly elevated risk for abnormal mood/behavior at preschool age. Girls seemed to be more sensitive to maternal PrA than boys, mainly manifested in internalizing problems; The third trimester of pregnancy might be a critical time window when maternal PrA affected children's internalizing problems; Longer the duration women had PrA during pregnancy, more possibilities their children would have to develop internalizing and externalizing problems. LIMITATIONS The PrA questionnaire may be different from PrA questionnaires in other countries such as due to different cultural contexts. Findings need to be interpreted with more caution. Factors such as maternal postpartum depression and care practices of nursing staff were not considered. No data were collected on disease as well as caregiver emotional status, which also impacts the reporting and identification of emotional/behavioral problems in children. CONCLUSIONS Gender-specific and cumulative effect of PrA on preschoolers' emotional/behavioral development is observed. The third trimester of pregnancy might be the critical time window.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fu Zhang
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle(AHMU), MOE, Hefei 230032, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Hefei 230032, China; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Jixing Zhou
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle(AHMU), MOE, Hefei 230032, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Hefei 230032, China; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Shanshan Zhang
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle(AHMU), MOE, Hefei 230032, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Hefei 230032, China; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Xiaoyun Qin
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle(AHMU), MOE, Hefei 230032, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Hefei 230032, China; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Peixuan Li
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle(AHMU), MOE, Hefei 230032, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Hefei 230032, China; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Fangbiao Tao
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle(AHMU), MOE, Hefei 230032, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Hefei 230032, China; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Kun Huang
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle(AHMU), MOE, Hefei 230032, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Hefei 230032, China; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Hefei 230032, China; Scientific Research Center in Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China..
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6
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Amado P, Zegers J, Yarur HE, Gysling K. Transcriptional Regulation, Signaling Pathways, and Subcellular Localization of Corticotropin-Releasing Factor Receptors in the Central Nervous System. Mol Pharmacol 2022; 102:280-287. [PMID: 36167424 DOI: 10.1124/molpharm.121.000476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) receptors CRF-R1 and CRF-R2 are differentially distributed in body tissues, and although they respond differentially to stimuli due to their association with different signaling pathways, both receptors have a fundamental role in the response and adaptation to stressful stimuli. Here, we summarize the reported data on different forms of CRF-R1 and CRF-R2 regulation as well as on their subcellular localization. Although the presence of R1 has been described at pre- and postsynaptic sites, R2 is mainly associated with postsynaptic densities. Different studies have provided valuable information on how these receptors regulate responses at a central level, elucidating different and sometimes synergistic roles in response to stress, but despite their high sequence identity, both receptors have been described to be differentially regulated both by their ligands and by transcriptional factors. To date, and from the point of view of their promoter sequences, it has not yet been reported how the different consensus sites identified in silico could be modulating the transcriptional regulation and expression of the receptors under different conditions, which strongly limits the full understanding of their differential functions, providing a wide field to increase and expand the study of the regulation and role of CRF receptors in the CRF system. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: A large number of physiological functions related to the organization of the stress response in different body tissues are associated with the corticotropin-releasing factor system. This system also plays a relevant role in depression and anxiety disorders, as well as being a direct connection between stress and addiction. A better understanding of how the receptors of this system are regulated would help to expand the understanding of how these receptors respond differently to both drugs and stressful stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Amado
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Juan Zegers
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Hector E Yarur
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Katia Gysling
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
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Stein LR, Hoke K. Parental and individual experience with predation risk interact in shaping phenotypes in a sex-specific manner. Anim Behav 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2022.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
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8
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Zoubovsky SP, Williams MT, Hoseus S, Tumukuntala S, Riesenberg A, Schulkin J, Vorhees CV, Campbell K, Lim HW, Muglia LJ. Neurobehavioral abnormalities following prenatal psychosocial stress are differentially modulated by maternal environment. Transl Psychiatry 2022; 12:22. [PMID: 35039487 PMCID: PMC8764031 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-022-01785-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2020] [Revised: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Prenatal stress (PS) is associated with increased vulnerability to affective disorders. Transplacental glucocorticoid passage and stress-induced maternal environment alterations are recognized as potential routes of transmission that can fundamentally alter neurodevelopment. However, molecular mechanisms underlying aberrant emotional outcomes or the individual contributions intrauterine stress versus maternal environment play in shaping these mechanisms remain unknown. Here, we report anxiogenic behaviors, anhedonia, and female hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis hyperactivity as a consequence of psychosocial PS in mice. Evidence of fetal amygdala programming precedes these abnormalities. In adult offspring, we observe amygdalar transcriptional changes demonstrating sex-specific dysfunction in synaptic transmission and neurotransmitter systems. We find these abnormalities are primarily driven by in-utero stress exposure. Importantly, maternal care changes postnatally reverse anxiety-related behaviors and partially rescue gene alterations associated with neurotransmission. Our data demonstrate the influence maternal environment exerts in shaping offspring emotional development despite deleterious effects of intrauterine stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra P. Zoubovsky
- grid.24827.3b0000 0001 2179 9593Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH USA ,grid.239573.90000 0000 9025 8099Center for the Prevention of Preterm Birth, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH USA ,grid.24827.3b0000 0001 2179 9593Molecular and Developmental Biology Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH USA
| | - Michael T. Williams
- grid.24827.3b0000 0001 2179 9593Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH USA ,grid.24827.3b0000 0001 2179 9593Molecular and Developmental Biology Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH USA ,grid.239573.90000 0000 9025 8099Division of Neurology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH USA
| | - Sarah Hoseus
- grid.239573.90000 0000 9025 8099Center for the Prevention of Preterm Birth, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH USA ,grid.239573.90000 0000 9025 8099Division of Human Genetics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH USA
| | - Shivani Tumukuntala
- grid.239573.90000 0000 9025 8099Center for the Prevention of Preterm Birth, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH USA ,grid.239573.90000 0000 9025 8099Division of Human Genetics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH USA
| | - Amy Riesenberg
- grid.239573.90000 0000 9025 8099Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH USA
| | - Jay Schulkin
- grid.213910.80000 0001 1955 1644Department of Neuroscience, Georgetown University, Washington, DC USA ,grid.34477.330000000122986657Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA USA
| | - Charles V. Vorhees
- grid.24827.3b0000 0001 2179 9593Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH USA ,grid.24827.3b0000 0001 2179 9593Molecular and Developmental Biology Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH USA ,grid.239573.90000 0000 9025 8099Division of Neurology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH USA
| | - Kenneth Campbell
- grid.24827.3b0000 0001 2179 9593Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH USA ,grid.24827.3b0000 0001 2179 9593Molecular and Developmental Biology Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH USA ,grid.239573.90000 0000 9025 8099Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH USA ,grid.239573.90000 0000 9025 8099Division of Neurosurgery, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH USA
| | - Hee-Woong Lim
- grid.24827.3b0000 0001 2179 9593Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH USA ,grid.24827.3b0000 0001 2179 9593Molecular and Developmental Biology Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH USA ,grid.239573.90000 0000 9025 8099Division of Biomedical Informatics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH USA
| | - Louis J. Muglia
- grid.24827.3b0000 0001 2179 9593Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH USA ,grid.239573.90000 0000 9025 8099Center for the Prevention of Preterm Birth, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH USA ,grid.24827.3b0000 0001 2179 9593Molecular and Developmental Biology Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH USA ,grid.239573.90000 0000 9025 8099Division of Human Genetics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH USA ,grid.427464.70000 0000 8727 8697Office of the President, Burroughs Wellcome Fund, Research Triangle Park, NC USA
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Alick CL, Maguire RL, Murphy SK, Fuemmeler BF, Hoyo C, House JS. Periconceptional Maternal Diet Characterized by High Glycemic Loading Is Associated with Offspring Behavior in NEST. Nutrients 2021; 13:nu13093180. [PMID: 34579057 PMCID: PMC8469715 DOI: 10.3390/nu13093180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Revised: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Maternal periconceptional diets have known associations with proper offspring neurodevelopment. Mechanisms for such associations include improper energy/nutrient balances between mother and fetus, as well as altered offspring epigenetics during development due to maternal nutrient and inflammatory status. Using a comprehensive food frequency questionnaire and assessing offspring temperament with the Infant-Toddler Social and Emotional Assessment (n = 325, mean age = 13.9 months), we sought to test whether a maternal periconceptional diet characterized by high glycemic loading (MGL) would affect offspring temperament using adjusted ordinal regression. After limiting false discovery to 10%, offspring born to mothers in tertile 3 of glycemic loading (referent = tertile 1) were more likely to be in the next tertile of anxiety [OR (95% CI) = 4.51 (1.88-11.07)] and inhibition-related behaviors [OR (95% CI) = 3.42 (1.49-7.96)]. Male offspring were more likely to exhibit impulsive [OR (95% CI) = 5.55 (1.76-18.33)], anxiety [OR (95% CI) = 4.41 (1.33-15.30)], sleep dysregulation [OR (95% CI) = 4.14 (1.34-13.16)], empathy [6.68 (1.95-24.40)], and maladaptive behaviors [OR (95% CI) = 9.86 (2.81-37.18)], while females were more likely to exhibit increased anxiety-related behaviors [OR (95% CI) = 15.02 (3.14-84.27)]. These associations persisted when concurrently modeled with the maternal-Mediterranean dietary pattern. In a subset (n = 142), we also found MGL associated with increased mean methylation of the imprint control region of SGCE/PEG10. In conclusion, these findings highlight the importance of maternal dietary patterns on offspring neurodevelopment, offering avenues for prevention options for mothers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Candice L. Alick
- Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA;
| | - Rachel L. Maguire
- Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA; (R.L.M.); (C.H.)
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27701, USA;
| | - Susan K. Murphy
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27701, USA;
| | - Bernard F. Fuemmeler
- Department of Health Behavior and Policy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23219, USA;
| | - Cathrine Hoyo
- Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA; (R.L.M.); (C.H.)
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - John S. House
- Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA; (R.L.M.); (C.H.)
- Biostatistics and Computational Biology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC 27709, USA
- Correspondence:
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Novoa J, Rivero CJ, Pérez-Cardona EU, Freire-Arvelo JA, Zegers J, Yarur HE, Santiago-Marerro IG, Agosto-Rivera JL, González-Pérez JL, Gysling K, Segarra AC. Social isolation of adolescent male rats increases anxiety and K + -induced dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens: Role of CRF-R1. Eur J Neurosci 2021; 54:4888-4905. [PMID: 34097788 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Revised: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Early life adversity can disrupt development leading to emotional and cognitive disorders. This study investigated the effects of social isolation after weaning on anxiety, body weight and locomotion, and on extracellular dopamine (DA) and glutamate (GLU) in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and their modulation by corticotropin releasing factor receptor 1. On the day of weaning, male rats were housed singly or in groups for 10 consecutive days. Anxiety-like behaviors were assessed by an elevated plus maze (EPM) and an open field test (OF). Neurotransmitter levels were measured by in vivo microdialysis. Single-housed rats spent less time, and entered more, into the closed arms of an EPM than group-housed rats. They also spent less time in the center of an OF, weighed more and showed greater locomotion. In the NAc, no differences in CRF, or in basal extracellular DA or GLU between groups, were observed. A depolarizing stimulus increased DA release in both groups but to higher levels in isolated rats, whereas GLU increased only in single-housed rats. Blocking CRF-R1 receptors with CP-154,526 decreased DA release in single-housed but not in group-housed rats. The corticotropin releasing factor receptor type 1 receptor antagonist also decreased GLU in group-housed animals. These results show that isolating adolescent rats increases anxiety, body weight and ambulation, as well as the sensitivity of dopaminergic neurons to a depolarizing stimulus. This study provides further evidence of the detrimental effects of social isolation during early development and indicates that dysregulation of the CRF system in the NAc may contribute to the pathologies observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Novoa
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Carlos J Rivero
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Enrique U Pérez-Cardona
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Jaime A Freire-Arvelo
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Juan Zegers
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Héctor E Yarur
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | | | | | - Jorge L González-Pérez
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Katia Gysling
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Annabell C Segarra
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
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11
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Creutzberg KC, Sanson A, Viola TW, Marchisella F, Begni V, Grassi-Oliveira R, Riva MA. Long-lasting effects of prenatal stress on HPA axis and inflammation: A systematic review and multilevel meta-analysis in rodent studies. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 127:270-283. [PMID: 33951412 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.04.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Revised: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Exposure to prenatal stress (PNS) can lead to long-lasting neurobiological and behavioral consequences for the offspring, which may enhance the susceptibility for mental disorders. The hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the immune system are two major factors involved in the stress response. Here, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of rodent studies that investigated the effects of PNS exposure on the HPA axis and inflammatory cytokines in adult offspring. Our analysis shows that animals exposed to PNS display a consistent increase in peripheral corticosterone (CORT) levels and central corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH), while decreased levels of its receptor 2 (CRHR2). Meta-regression revealed that sex and duration of PNS protocol are covariates that moderate these results. There was no significant effect of PNS in glucocorticoid receptor (GR), CRH receptor 1 (CRHR1), pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Our findings suggest that PNS exposure elicits long-lasting effects on the HPA axis function, providing an important tool to investigate in preclinical settings key pathological aspects related to early-life stress exposure. Furthermore, researchers should be aware of the mixed outcomes of PNS on inflammatory markers in the adult brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kerstin Camile Creutzberg
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133, Milan, Italy.
| | - Alice Sanson
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133, Milan, Italy.
| | - Thiago Wendt Viola
- School of Medicine, Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Lab, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Avenida Ipiranga 6681, Building 12A, 90619-900, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
| | - Francesca Marchisella
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133, Milan, Italy.
| | - Veronica Begni
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133, Milan, Italy.
| | - Rodrigo Grassi-Oliveira
- School of Medicine, Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Lab, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Avenida Ipiranga 6681, Building 12A, 90619-900, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
| | - Marco Andrea Riva
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133, Milan, Italy; Biological Psychiatry Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy.
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12
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Tiwari P, Fanibunda SE, Kapri D, Vasaya S, Pati S, Vaidya VA. GPCR signaling: role in mediating the effects of early adversity in psychiatric disorders. FEBS J 2021; 288:2602-2621. [DOI: 10.1111/febs.15738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Revised: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Praachi Tiwari
- Department of Biological Sciences Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Mumbai India
| | - Sashaina E. Fanibunda
- Department of Biological Sciences Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Mumbai India
- Medical Research Centre Kasturba Health Society Mumbai India
| | - Darshana Kapri
- Department of Biological Sciences Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Mumbai India
| | - Shweta Vasaya
- Department of Biological Sciences Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Mumbai India
| | - Sthitapranjya Pati
- Department of Biological Sciences Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Mumbai India
| | - Vidita A. Vaidya
- Department of Biological Sciences Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Mumbai India
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13
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Lehtola SJ, Tuulari JJ, Scheinin NM, Karlsson L, Parkkola R, Merisaari H, Lewis JD, Fonov VS, Louis Collins D, Evans A, Saunavaara J, Hashempour N, Lähdesmäki T, Acosta H, Karlsson H. Newborn amygdalar volumes are associated with maternal prenatal psychological distress in a sex-dependent way. Neuroimage Clin 2020; 28:102380. [PMID: 32805677 PMCID: PMC7453059 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2020.102380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Revised: 08/07/2020] [Accepted: 08/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Maternal psychological distress during pregnancy (PPD)1 has been associated with changes in offspring amygdalar and hippocampal volumes. Studies on child amygdalae suggest that sex moderates the vulnerability of fetal brains to prenatal stress. However, this has not yet been observed in these structures in newborns. Newborn studies are crucial, as they minimize the confounding influence of postnatal life. We investigated the effects of maternal prenatal psychological symptoms on newborn amygdalar and hippocampal volumes and their interactions with newborn sex in 123 newborns aged 2-5 weeks (69 males, 54 females). Based on earlier studies, we anticipated small, but statistically significant effects of PPD on the volumes of these structures. Maternal psychological distress was measured at gestational weeks (GW)2 14, 24 and 34 using Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90, anxiety scale)3 and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS)4 questionnaires. Newborn sex was found to moderate the relationship between maternal distress symptoms at GW 24 and the volumes of left and right amygdala. This relationship was negative and significant only in males. No significant main effect or sex-based moderation was found for hippocampal volumes. This newborn study provides evidence for a sex-dependent influence of maternal psychiatric symptoms on amygdalar structural development. This association may be relevant to later psychopathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satu J Lehtola
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Institute of Clinical Medicine University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
| | - Jetro J Tuulari
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Institute of Clinical Medicine University of Turku, Turku, Finland; Department of Psychiatry, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland; Turku Collegium for Science and Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland; Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Noora M Scheinin
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Institute of Clinical Medicine University of Turku, Turku, Finland; Department of Psychiatry, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | - Linnea Karlsson
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Institute of Clinical Medicine University of Turku, Turku, Finland; Department of Child Psychiatry, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland; Center for Population Health Research, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Finland
| | - Riitta Parkkola
- Department of Radiology, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | - Harri Merisaari
- Department of Future Technologies, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - John D Lewis
- Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Vladimir S Fonov
- Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - D Louis Collins
- Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Alan Evans
- Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Jani Saunavaara
- Department of Medical Physics, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | - Niloofar Hashempour
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Institute of Clinical Medicine University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Tuire Lähdesmäki
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | - Henriette Acosta
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Institute of Clinical Medicine University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Hasse Karlsson
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Institute of Clinical Medicine University of Turku, Turku, Finland; Department of Psychiatry, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland; Center for Population Health Research, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Finland
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Muzyko EA, Perfilova VN, Suvorin KV, Tyurenkov IN. The effect of early and late pharmacological correction with GABA derivatives of psychoemotional state of offspring of rats with experimental preeclampsia. RESEARCH RESULTS IN PHARMACOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.3897/rrpharmacology.6.54616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Preeclampsia is a serious complication of pregnancy, which increases the risk of anxiety disorders and depression in children at different stages of ontogenesis.
Materials and methods: The psychoemotional state of 70-day-old offspring of rats with experimental preeclampsia (EP) was studied after pharmacological correction from the 40th to 70th day of offspring life with GABA derivatives – succicard (22 mg/kg), salifen (7.5 mg/kg), phenibut (25 mg/kg) and comparison drug pantogam (50 mg) – in the Open field test, the Elevated plus maze test, and the Marble burying test. The above mentioned tests, together with the Porsolt test, were performed at the age of 18 months.
At the second step, the offspring received succicard (44 mg/kg), salifen (15 mg/kg), phenibut (50 mg/kg) and pantogam (100 mg) from the 24th to 25th month of life. After that, the animals were tested.
Results and discussion: The EP progeny had an increased level of anxiety and depression, as well as obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Early GABA derivatives exposure limited anxiety and depression in the animals aged 70 days and 18 months, with salifen limiting compulsive behavior. Late GABA derivatives “treatment” exerted anti-compulsive and antidepressant effects, with phenibut having a greater degree of anxiolytic activity. Succicard, salifen and phenibut were comparable or superior to pantogam in terms of effectiveness.
Conclusion: EP has a negative effect on the psychoemotional state of offspring. Early and late pharmacological correction with derivatives of GABA, such as succicard, salifen and phenibut, reduced anxiety, manifestations of obsessive-compulsive disorder, and depression in offspring of the rats with EP pregnancy.
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15
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Luft C, Levices IP, Costa MS, Haute GV, Grassi‐Oliveira R, Oliveira JR, Donadio MVF. Exercise before pregnancy attenuates the effects of prenatal stress in adult mice in a sex‐dependent manner. Int J Dev Neurosci 2020; 80:86-95. [DOI: 10.1002/jdn.10001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2019] [Accepted: 12/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Luft
- Laboratory of Pediatric Physical Activity Infant Center Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS) Porto Alegre Brazil
- Laboratory of Cellular Biophysics and Inflammation Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS) Porto Alegre Brazil
| | - Isadora Perez Levices
- Laboratory of Pediatric Physical Activity Infant Center Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS) Porto Alegre Brazil
| | - Mariana Severo Costa
- Laboratory of Pediatric Physical Activity Infant Center Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS) Porto Alegre Brazil
| | - Gabriela Viegas Haute
- Laboratory of Cellular Biophysics and Inflammation Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS) Porto Alegre Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Grassi‐Oliveira
- Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory (DCNL) Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS) Porto Alegre Brazil
| | - Jarbas Rodrigues Oliveira
- Laboratory of Cellular Biophysics and Inflammation Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS) Porto Alegre Brazil
| | - Márcio Vinícius Fagundes Donadio
- Laboratory of Pediatric Physical Activity Infant Center Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS) Porto Alegre Brazil
- Laboratory of Cellular Biophysics and Inflammation Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS) Porto Alegre Brazil
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Biological intersection of sex, age, and environment in the corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) system and alcohol. Neuropharmacology 2020; 170:108045. [PMID: 32217364 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2020.108045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2019] [Revised: 02/13/2020] [Accepted: 03/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
The neuropeptide corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) is critical in neural circuit function and behavior, particularly in the context of stress, anxiety, and addiction. Despite a wealth of preclinical evidence for the efficacy of CRF receptor 1 antagonists in reducing behavioral pathology associated with alcohol exposure, several clinical trials have had disappointing outcomes, possibly due to an underappreciation of the role of biological variables. Although he National Institutes of Health (NIH) now mandate the inclusion of sex as a biological variable in all clinical and preclinical research, the current state of knowledge in this area is based almost entirely on evidence from male subjects. Additionally, the influence of biological variables other than sex has received even less attention in the context of neuropeptide signaling. Age (particularly adolescent development) and housing conditions have been shown to affect CRF signaling and voluntary alcohol intake, and the interaction between these biological variables is particularly relevant to the role of the CRF system in the vulnerability or resilience to the development of alcohol use disorder (AUD). Going forward, it will be important to include careful consideration of biological variables in experimental design, reporting, and interpretation. As new research uncovers conditions in which sex, age, and environment play major roles in physiological and/or pathological processes, our understanding of the complex interaction between relevant biological variables and critical signaling pathways like the CRF system in the cellular and behavioral consequences of alcohol exposure will continue to expand ultimately improving the ability of preclinical research to translate to the clinic. This article is part of the special issue on Neuropeptides.
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17
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Effects of predator-induced stress during pregnancy on reproductive output and offspring quality in Brandt’s voles (Lasiopodomys brandtii). EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-019-1354-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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18
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Guerrero DM, Jiménez Vásquez FDJ, Osornio MR, Rubio Osornio MDC, Suárez SO, Retana-Márquez S. Serotonin and noradrenaline content and release in the dorsal hippocampus during learning and spatial memory in prenatally stressed rats. Acta Neurobiol Exp (Wars) 2020. [DOI: 10.21307/ane-2020-037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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19
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Jiménez Vásquez FDJ, Guerrero DM, Osornio MR, Rubio Osornio MDC, Suárez SO, Retana-Márquez S. Decreased serotonin content and release in the ventral hippocampus of prenatally stressed male rats in response to forced swim test. Acta Neurobiol Exp (Wars) 2020. [DOI: 10.21307/ane-2020-029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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20
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Effects of oxytocin on prosocial behavior and the associated profiles of oxytocinergic and corticotropin-releasing hormone receptors in a rodent model of posttraumatic stress disorder. J Biomed Sci 2019; 26:26. [PMID: 30898126 PMCID: PMC6427848 DOI: 10.1186/s12929-019-0514-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2018] [Accepted: 02/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Traumatic experience may lead to various psychological sequelae including the unforgettable trauma-associated memory as seen in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), with a mechanism of impaired fear extinction due to biological imbalance among hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and fear circuit areas such as medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), hippocampus, and amygdala. Recently the impaired sociability seen in PTSD patients received great attention and the involvement of oxytocin (OXT) mediation is worth being investigated. This study examined whether the trauma-altered prosocial behavior can be modulated by OXT manipulation and its relationship with corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) signaling. METHODS Male rats previously exposed to a single prolonged stress (SPS) were evaluated for their performance in social choice test (SCT) and novel object recognition test (NORT) following the introduction of intranasal oxytocin (OXT) and OXT receptor antagonist atosiban (ASB). OXT receptors (OXTR) and CRH receptors (CRHR1, CRHR2) were quantified in both protein and mRNA levels in medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), hippocampus, and amygdala. RESULTS SPS reduced inclination of rats staying at the sociable place with performing less prosocial contacts. OXT can amend the deficit but this effect was blocked by ASB. Expression of OXTR became reduced following SPS in mPFC and amygdala, the latter exhibited higher therapeutic specificity to OXT. Expression of CRHR1 appeared more sensitive than CRHR2 to SPS, higher CRHR1 protein levels were found in mPFC and amygdala. CONCLUSION Psychological trauma-impaired sociability is highly associated with OXT signaling pathway. Intranasal OXT restored both the SPS-impaired prosocial contacts and the SPS-reduced OXTR expressions in mPFC and amygdala. OXT may have therapeutic potential to treat PTSD patients with impaired social behaviors.
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Hamada H, Matthews SG. Prenatal programming of stress responsiveness and behaviours: Progress and perspectives. J Neuroendocrinol 2019; 31:e12674. [PMID: 30582647 DOI: 10.1111/jne.12674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2018] [Revised: 12/07/2018] [Accepted: 12/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Parental exposure to stress or glucocorticoids either before or during pregnancy can have profound influences on neurodevelopment, neuroendocrine function and behaviours in offspring. Specific outcomes are dependent on the nature, intensity and timing of the exposure, as well as species, sex and age of the subject. Most recently, it has become evident that outcomes are not confined to first-generation offspring and that there may be intergenerational and transgenerational transmission of effects. There has been intense focus on the mechanisms by which such early exposure leads to long-term and potential transgenerational outcomes, and there is strong emerging evidence that epigenetic processes (histone modifications, DNA methylation, and small non-coding RNAs) are involved. New knowledge in this area may allow the development of interventions that can prevent, ameliorate or reverse the long-term negative outcomes associated with exposure to early adversity. This review will focus on the latest research, bridging human and pre-clinical studies, and will highlight some of the limitations, challenges and gaps that exist in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hirotaka Hamada
- Departments of Physiology, Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Stephen G Matthews
- Departments of Physiology, Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health Systems, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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22
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Schmidt M, Rauh M, Schmid MC, Huebner H, Ruebner M, Wachtveitl R, Cordasic N, Rascher W, Menendez-Castro C, Hartner A, Fahlbusch FB. Influence of Low Protein Diet-Induced Fetal Growth Restriction on the Neuroplacental Corticosterone Axis in the Rat. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2019; 10:124. [PMID: 30915031 PMCID: PMC6421269 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2019.00124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2018] [Accepted: 02/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives: Placental steroid metabolism is linked to the fetal hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis. Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) might alter this cross-talk and lead to maternal stress, in turn contributing to the pathogenesis of anxiety-related disorders of the offspring, which might be mediated by fetal overexposure to, or a reduced local enzymatic protection against maternal glucocorticoids. So far, direct evidence of altered levels of circulating/local glucocorticoids is scarce. Liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) allows quantitative endocrine assessment of blood and tissue. Using a rat model of maternal protein restriction (low protein [LP] vs. normal protein [NP]) to induce IUGR, we analyzed fetal and maternal steroid levels via LC-MS/MS along with the local expression of 11beta-hydroxysteroid-dehydrogenase (Hsd11b). Methods: Pregnant Wistar dams were fed a low protein (8%, LP; IUGR) or an isocaloric normal protein diet (17%, NP; controls). At E18.5, the expression of Hsd11b1 and 2 was determined by RT-PCR in fetal placenta and brain. Steroid profiling of maternal and fetal whole blood, fetal brain, and placenta was performed via LC-MS/MS. Results: In animals with LP-induced reduced body (p < 0.001) and placental weights (p < 0.05) we did not observe any difference in the expressional Hsd11b1/2-ratio in brain or placenta. Moreover, LP diet did not alter corticosterone (Cort) or 11-dehydrocorticosterone (DH-Cort) levels in dams, while fetal whole blood levels of Cort were significantly lower in the LP group (p < 0.001) and concomitantly in LP brain (p = 0.003) and LP placenta (p = 0.002). Maternal and fetal progesterone levels (whole blood and tissue) were not influenced by LP diet. Conclusion: Various rat models of intrauterine stress show profound alterations in placental Hsd11b2 gatekeeper function and fetal overexposure to corticosterone. In contrast, LP diet in our model induced IUGR without altering maternal steroid levels or placental enzymatic glucocorticoid barrier function. In fact, IUGR offspring showed significantly reduced levels of circulating and local corticosterone. Thus, our LP model might not represent a genuine model of intrauterine stress. Hypothetically, the observed changes might reflect a fetal attempt to maintain anabolic conditions in the light of protein restriction to sustain regular brain development. This may contribute to fetal origins of later neurodevelopmental sequelae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marius Schmidt
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Manfred Rauh
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Matthias C. Schmid
- Institute of Medical Biometry, Informatics and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-University, Bonn, Germany
| | - Hanna Huebner
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics/Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Matthias Ruebner
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics/Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Rainer Wachtveitl
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Nada Cordasic
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Rascher
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Carlos Menendez-Castro
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Andrea Hartner
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Fabian B. Fahlbusch
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
- *Correspondence: Fabian B. Fahlbusch
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Bleker LS, van Dammen L, Leeflang MMG, Limpens J, Roseboom TJ, de Rooij SR. Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and autonomic nervous system reactivity in children prenatally exposed to maternal depression: A systematic review of prospective studies. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2018; 117:243-252. [PMID: 30366609 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.05.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2017] [Revised: 05/25/2018] [Accepted: 05/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Depression is a common condition affecting up to 20% of all pregnant women, and is associated with subsequent developmental and behavioral problems in children, such as conduct disorder and ADHD. One proposed mechanism underlying these associations is modification of the fetal hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA)-axis and the autonomic nervous system (ANS), resulting in altered responses to stress. This review examined the evidence regarding altered HPA-axis and ANS reactivity in children prenatally exposed to high maternal depressive symptoms. A systematic search was conducted in the electronic databases MEDLINE, EMBASE and PsycINFO, for studies published till 25 July 2017. A total of 13 studies comprising 2271 mother-infant dyads were included. None of the studies were suitable for meta-analysis. Risk of bias assessment showed low risk for four studies. Only three studies described an independent association between exposure to high maternal prenatal depressive symptoms and altered stress reactivity in children. There is limited evidence of an independent association between prenatal exposure to maternal depression and altered HPA or ANS reactivity in children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura S Bleker
- Academic Medical Centre, Departments of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Academic Medical Centre, Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Lotte van Dammen
- University of Groningen - University Medical Centre Groningen, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 9713 GZ, Groningen, The Netherlands; University of Groningen - University Medical Centre Groningen, Department of Epidemiology, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Mariska M G Leeflang
- Academic Medical Centre, Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jacqueline Limpens
- Academic Medical Centre, Department of Research Support - Medical Library, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Tessa J Roseboom
- Academic Medical Centre, Departments of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Academic Medical Centre, Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Susanne R de Rooij
- Academic Medical Centre, Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Winther G, Eskelund A, Bay-Richter C, Elfving B, Müller HK, Lund S, Wegener G. Grandmaternal high-fat diet primed anxiety-like behaviour in the second-generation female offspring. Behav Brain Res 2018; 359:47-55. [PMID: 30336180 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2018.10.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2018] [Revised: 10/12/2018] [Accepted: 10/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The health consequences of maternal obesity during pregnancy are disturbing as they may contribute to mental disorders in subsequent generations. We examine the influence of suboptimal grandmaternal diet on potential metabolic and mental health outcome of grand-progenies with a high-fat diet (HFD) manipulation in adulthood in a rat HFD model. Grandmaternal exposure to HFD exacerbated granddaughter's anxiety-like phenotype. Grandmaternal exposure to HFD led to upregulated corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor 2 mRNA expression involved in the stress axis in the male F2 offspring. Thus, we demonstrate that suboptimal grandmaternal diet prior to and during pregnancy and lactation may persist across subsequent generations. These findings have important implications for understanding both individual rates of metabolic and mental health problems and the clinical impact of current global trends towards comorbidity of obesity and depression and anxiety. In conclusion, the effect of grandmaternal HFD consumption during pregnancy on stress axis function and mental disorders may be transmitted to future generations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gudrun Winther
- Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Risskov, DK-8240, Denmark.
| | - Amanda Eskelund
- Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Risskov, DK-8240, Denmark.
| | - Cecilie Bay-Richter
- Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Risskov, DK-8240, Denmark.
| | - Betina Elfving
- Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Risskov, DK-8240, Denmark.
| | - Heidi Kaastrup Müller
- Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Risskov, DK-8240, Denmark.
| | - Sten Lund
- Department of Endocrinology and Internal Medicine Medical Research Laboratory, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, DK-8000, Denmark.
| | - Gregers Wegener
- Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Risskov, DK-8240, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, AUGUST Centre, Aarhus University, Risskov, Denmark.
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Dean DC, Planalp EM, Wooten W, Kecskemeti SR, Adluru N, Schmidt CK, Frye C, Birn RM, Burghy CA, Schmidt NL, Styner MA, Short SJ, Kalin NH, Goldsmith HH, Alexander AL, Davidson RJ. Association of Prenatal Maternal Depression and Anxiety Symptoms With Infant White Matter Microstructure. JAMA Pediatr 2018; 172:973-981. [PMID: 30177999 PMCID: PMC6190835 DOI: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2018.2132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Maternal depression and anxiety can have deleterious and lifelong consequences on child development. However, many aspects of the association of early brain development with maternal symptoms remain unclear. Understanding the timing of potential neurobiological alterations holds inherent value for the development and evaluation of future therapies and interventions. OBJECTIVE To examine the association between exposure to prenatal maternal depression and anxiety symptoms and offspring white matter microstructure at 1 month of age. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This cohort study of 101 mother-infant dyads used a composite of depression and anxiety symptoms measured in mothers during the third trimester of pregnancy and measures of white matter microstructure characterized in the mothers' 1-month offspring using diffusion tensor imaging and neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging performed from October 1, 2014, to November 30, 2016. Magnetic resonance imaging was performed at an academic research facility during natural, nonsedated sleep. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Brain mapping algorithms and statistical models were used to evaluate the association between maternal depression and anxiety and 1-month infant white matter microstructure as measured by diffusion tensor imaging and neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging findings. RESULTS In the 101 mother-infant dyads (mean [SD] age of mothers, 33.22 [3.99] years; mean age of infants at magnetic resonance imaging, 33.07 days [range, 18-50 days]; 92 white mothers [91.1%]; 53 male infants [52.5%]), lower 1-month white matter microstructure (decreased neurite density and increased mean, radial, and axial diffusivity) was associated in right frontal white matter microstructure with higher prenatal maternal symptoms of depression and anxiety. Significant sex × symptom interactions with measures of white matter microstructure were also observed, suggesting that white matter development may be differentially sensitive to maternal depression and anxiety symptoms in males and females during the prenatal period. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE These data highlight the importance of the prenatal period to early brain development and suggest that the underlying white matter microstructure is associated with the continuum of prenatal maternal depression and anxiety symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Elizabeth M. Planalp
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison,Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin, Madison
| | - William Wooten
- Center for Healthy Minds, University of Wisconsin, Madison
| | | | | | - Cory K. Schmidt
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison,Center for Healthy Minds, University of Wisconsin, Madison
| | - Corrina Frye
- Center for Healthy Minds, University of Wisconsin, Madison
| | - Rasmus M. Birn
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison,Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison
| | - Cory A. Burghy
- Center for Healthy Minds, University of Wisconsin, Madison
| | | | - Martin A. Styner
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill,Department of Computer Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill
| | - Sarah J. Short
- Center for Healthy Minds, University of Wisconsin, Madison
| | - Ned H. Kalin
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison,Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin, Madison,Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison
| | - H. Hill Goldsmith
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison,Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin, Madison
| | - Andrew L. Alexander
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison,Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison,Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison
| | - Richard J. Davidson
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison,Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin, Madison,Center for Healthy Minds, University of Wisconsin, Madison,Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison
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Iturra-Mena AM, Arriagada-Solimano M, Luttecke-Anders A, Dagnino-Subiabre A. Effects of prenatal stress on anxiety- and depressive-like behaviours are sex-specific in prepubertal rats. J Neuroendocrinol 2018; 30:e12609. [PMID: 29772083 DOI: 10.1111/jne.12609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2017] [Revised: 05/03/2018] [Accepted: 05/11/2018] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
The foetal brain is highly susceptible to stress in late pregnancy, with lifelong effects of stress on physiology and behaviour. The present study aimed to determine the physiological and behavioural effects of prenatal stress during the prepubertal period of female and male rats. We subjected pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats to a restraint stress protocol from gestational day 14 to 21, a critical period for foetal brain susceptibility to stress effects. Male and female offspring were subsequently assessed at postnatal day 24 for anxiety- and depressive-like behaviours, as well as spontaneous social interaction. We also assessed maternal behaviours and 2 stress markers: basal vs acute-evoked stress levels of serum corticosterone and body weight gain. Prenatal stress did not affect the maternal behaviour, whereas both female and male offspring had higher body weight gain. On the other hand, lower levels of corticosterone after acute stress stimulation, as well as anxiety- and depressive-like behaviours, were only evident in stressed males compared to control males. These results suggest that prenatal stress induced sex-specific effects on hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity and on behaviour during prepuberty. The HPA axis of prenatally stressed male rats was less active compared to control males, and they were also more anxious and experienced depressive-like behaviours. These results are useful with respect to studying the neurobiological basis of childhood depression at a preclinical level.
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Affiliation(s)
- A M Iturra-Mena
- Laboratory of Stress Neurobiology, Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Universidad de las Américas, Viña del Mar, Chile
| | - M Arriagada-Solimano
- Laboratory of Stress Neurobiology, Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - A Luttecke-Anders
- Laboratory of Stress Neurobiology, Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - A Dagnino-Subiabre
- Laboratory of Stress Neurobiology, Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
- Auditory and Cognition Center, AUCO, Santiago, Chile
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Ketchesin KD, Stinnett GS, Seasholtz AF. Corticotropin-releasing hormone-binding protein and stress: from invertebrates to humans. Stress 2017; 20:449-464. [PMID: 28436309 PMCID: PMC7885796 DOI: 10.1080/10253890.2017.1322575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) is a key regulator of the stress response. This peptide controls the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis as well as a variety of behavioral and autonomic stress responses via the two CRH receptors, CRH-R1 and CRH-R2. The CRH system also includes an evolutionarily conserved CRH-binding protein (CRH-BP), a secreted glycoprotein that binds CRH with subnanomolar affinity to modulate CRH receptor activity. In this review, we discuss the current literature on CRH-BP and stress across multiple species, from insects to humans. We describe the regulation of CRH-BP in response to stress, as well as genetic mouse models that have been utilized to elucidate the in vivo role(s) of CRH-BP in modulating the stress response. Finally, the role of CRH-BP in the human stress response is examined, including single nucleotide polymorphisms in the human CRHBP gene that are associated with stress-related affective disorders and addiction. Lay summary The stress response is controlled by corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), acting via CRH receptors. However, the CRH system also includes a unique CRH-binding protein (CRH-BP) that binds CRH with an affinity greater than the CRH receptors. In this review, we discuss the role of this highly conserved CRH-BP in regulation of the CRH-mediated stress response from invertebrates to humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle D. Ketchesin
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
| | - Gwen S. Stinnett
- Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
| | - Audrey F. Seasholtz
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
- Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
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28
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Wistar audiogenic rats display abnormal behavioral traits associated with artificial selection for seizure susceptibility. Epilepsy Behav 2017; 71:243-249. [PMID: 26440280 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2015.08.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2015] [Revised: 08/25/2015] [Accepted: 08/30/2015] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Accumulating evidence from different animal models has contributed to the understanding of the bidirectional comorbidity associations between the epileptic condition and behavioral abnormalities. A strain of animals inbred to enhance seizure predisposition to high-intensity sound stimulation, the Wistar audiogenic rat (WAR), underwent several behavioral tests: forced swim test (FST), open-field test (OFT), sucrose preference test (SPT), elevated plus maze (EPM), social preference (SP), marble burying test (MBT), inhibitory avoidance (IAT), and two-way active avoidance (TWAA). The choice of tests aimed to investigate the correlation between underlying circuits believed to be participating in both WAR's innate susceptibility to sound-triggered seizures and the neurobiological substrates associated with test performance. Comparing WAR with its Wistar counterpart (i.e., resistant to audiogenic seizures) showed that WARs present behavioral despair traits (e.g., increased FST immobility) but no evidence of anhedonic behavior (e.g., increased sucrose consumption in SPT) or social impairment (e.g., no difference regarding juvenile exploration in SP). In addition, tests suggested that WARs are unable to properly evaluate degrees of aversiveness (e.g., performance on OFT, EPM, MBT, IAT, and TWAA). The particularities of the WAR model opens new venues to further untangle the neurobiology underlying the co-morbidity of behavioral disorders and epilepsy. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled "Genetic and Reflex Epilepsies, Audiogenic Seizures and Strains: From Experimental Models to the Clinic".
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29
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van Bodegom M, Homberg JR, Henckens MJAG. Modulation of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis by Early Life Stress Exposure. Front Cell Neurosci 2017; 11:87. [PMID: 28469557 PMCID: PMC5395581 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2017.00087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 289] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2017] [Accepted: 03/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Exposure to stress during critical periods in development can have severe long-term consequences, increasing overall risk on psychopathology. One of the key stress response systems mediating these long-term effects of stress is the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis; a cascade of central and peripheral events resulting in the release of corticosteroids from the adrenal glands. Activation of the HPA-axis affects brain functioning to ensure a proper behavioral response to the stressor, but stress-induced (mal)adaptation of the HPA-axis' functional maturation may provide a mechanistic basis for the altered stress susceptibility later in life. Development of the HPA-axis and the brain regions involved in its regulation starts prenatally and continues after birth, and is protected by several mechanisms preventing corticosteroid over-exposure to the maturing brain. Nevertheless, early life stress (ELS) exposure has been reported to have numerous consequences on HPA-axis function in adulthood, affecting both its basal and stress-induced activity. According to the match/mismatch theory, encountering ELS prepares an organism for similar ("matching") adversities during adulthood, while a mismatching environment results in an increased susceptibility to psychopathology, indicating that ELS can exert either beneficial or disadvantageous effects depending on the environmental context. Here, we review studies investigating the mechanistic underpinnings of the ELS-induced alterations in the structural and functional development of the HPA-axis and its key external regulators (amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex). The effects of ELS appear highly dependent on the developmental time window affected, the sex of the offspring, and the developmental stage at which effects are assessed. Albeit by distinct mechanisms, ELS induced by prenatal stressors, maternal separation, or the limited nesting model inducing fragmented maternal care, typically results in HPA-axis hyper-reactivity in adulthood, as also found in major depression. This hyper-activity is related to increased corticotrophin-releasing hormone signaling and impaired glucocorticoid receptor-mediated negative feedback. In contrast, initial evidence for HPA-axis hypo-reactivity is observed for early social deprivation, potentially reflecting the abnormal HPA-axis function as observed in post-traumatic stress disorder, and future studies should investigate its neural/neuroendocrine foundation in further detail. Interestingly, experiencing additional (chronic) stress in adulthood seems to normalize these alterations in HPA-axis function, supporting the match/mismatch theory.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Marloes J. A. G. Henckens
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Centre for Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and BehaviourRadboudumc, Nijmegen, Netherlands
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30
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Maternal cortisol stimulates neurogenesis and affects larval behaviour in zebrafish. Sci Rep 2017; 7:40905. [PMID: 28098234 PMCID: PMC5241638 DOI: 10.1038/srep40905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2016] [Accepted: 12/13/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Excess glucocorticoid transferred from stressed mother to the embryo affects developing vertebrate offspring, but the underlying programming events are unclear. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that increased zygotic glucocorticoid deposition, mimicking a maternal stress scenario, modifies early brain development and larval behaviour in zebrafish (Danio rerio). Cortisol was microinjected into the yolk at one cell-stage, to mimic maternal transfer, and the larvae [96 hours post-fertilization (hpf)] displayed increased activity in light and a reduction in thigmotaxis, a behavioural model for anxiety, suggesting an increased propensity for boldness. This cortisol-mediated behavioural phenotype corresponded with an increase in primary neurogenesis, as measured by incorporation of EdU at 24 hpf, in a region-specific manner in the preoptic region and the pallium, the teleostean homolog of the hippocampus. Also, cortisol increased the expression of the proneural gene neurod4, a marker of neurogenesis, in a region- and development-specific manner in the embryos. Altogether, excess zygotic cortisol, mimicking maternal stress, affects early brain development and behavioural phenotype in larval zebrafish. We propose a key role for cortisol in altering brain development leading to enhanced boldness, which may be beneficial in preparing the offspring to a stressful environment and enhancing fitness.
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31
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Mosley M, Shah C, Morse KA, Miloro SA, Holmes MM, Ahern TH, Forger NG. Patterns of cell death in the perinatal mouse forebrain. J Comp Neurol 2017; 525:47-64. [PMID: 27199256 PMCID: PMC5116296 DOI: 10.1002/cne.24041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2016] [Revised: 05/16/2016] [Accepted: 05/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The importance of cell death in brain development has long been appreciated, but many basic questions remain, such as what initiates or terminates the cell death period. One obstacle has been the lack of quantitative data defining exactly when cell death occurs. We recently created a "cell death atlas," using the detection of activated caspase-3 (AC3) to quantify apoptosis in the postnatal mouse ventral forebrain and hypothalamus, and found that the highest rates of cell death were seen at the earliest postnatal ages in most regions. Here we have extended these analyses to prenatal ages and additional brain regions. We quantified cell death in 16 forebrain regions across nine perinatal ages from embryonic day (E) 17 to postnatal day (P) 11 and found that cell death peaks just after birth in most regions. We found greater cell death in several regions in offspring delivered vaginally on the day of parturition compared with those of the same postconception age but still in utero at the time of collection. We also found massive cell death in the oriens layer of the hippocampus on P1 and in regions surrounding the anterior crossing of the corpus callosum on E18 as well as the persistence of large numbers of cells in those regions in adult mice lacking the pro-death Bax gene. Together these findings suggest that birth may be an important trigger of neuronal cell death and identify transient cell groups that may undergo wholesale elimination perinatally. J. Comp. Neurol. 525:47-64, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgan Mosley
- Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, 30302
| | - Charisma Shah
- Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, 30302
| | - Kiriana A Morse
- Department of Psychology, Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, Quinnipiac University, Hamden, Connecticut, 06518
| | - Stephen A Miloro
- Department of Psychology, Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, Quinnipiac University, Hamden, Connecticut, 06518
| | - Melissa M Holmes
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, Ontario, L5L 1C6, Canada
| | - Todd H Ahern
- Department of Psychology, Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, Quinnipiac University, Hamden, Connecticut, 06518
| | - Nancy G Forger
- Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, 30302
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Li K, Nakajima M, Ibañez-Tallon I, Heintz N. A Cortical Circuit for Sexually Dimorphic Oxytocin-Dependent Anxiety Behaviors. Cell 2016; 167:60-72.e11. [PMID: 27641503 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2016.08.067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 142] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2016] [Revised: 06/27/2016] [Accepted: 08/25/2016] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The frequency of human social and emotional disorders varies significantly between males and females. We have recently reported that oxytocin receptor interneurons (OxtrINs) modulate female sociosexual behavior. Here, we show that, in male mice, OxtrINs regulate anxiety-related behaviors. We demonstrate that corticotropin-releasing-hormone-binding protein (CRHBP), an antagonist of the stress hormone CRH, is specifically expressed in OxtrINs. Production of CRHBP blocks the CRH-induced potentiation of postsynaptic layer 2/3 pyramidal cell activity of male, but not female, mice, thus producing an anxiolytic effect. Our data identify OxtrINs as critical for modulation of social and emotional behaviors in both females and males and reveal a molecular mechanism that acts on local medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) circuits to coordinate responses to OXT and CRH. They suggest that additional studies of the impact of the OXT/OXTR and CRHBP/CRH pathways in males and females will be important in development of gender-specific therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Li
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Miho Nakajima
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Ines Ibañez-Tallon
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Nathaniel Heintz
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA.
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Prenatal stressors in rodents: Effects on behavior. Neurobiol Stress 2016; 6:3-13. [PMID: 28229104 PMCID: PMC5314420 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2016.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 156] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2016] [Revised: 08/07/2016] [Accepted: 08/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The current review focuses on studies in rodents published since 2008 and explores possible reasons for any differences they report in the effects of gestational stress on various types of behavior in the offspring. An abundance of experimental data shows that different maternal stressors in rodents can replicate some of the abnormalities in offspring behavior observed in humans. These include, anxiety, in juvenile and adult rats and mice, assessed in the elevated plus maze and open field tests and depression, detected in the forced swim and sucrose-preference tests. Deficits were reported in social interaction that is suggestive of pathology associated with schizophrenia, and in spatial learning and memory in adult rats in the Morris water maze test, but in most studies only males were tested. There were too few studies on the novel object recognition test at different inter-trial intervals to enable a conclusion about the effect of prenatal stress and whether any deficits are more prevalent in males. Among hippocampal glutamate receptors, NR2B was the only subtype consistently reduced in association with learning deficits. However, like in humans with schizophrenia and depression, prenatal stress lowered hippocampal levels of BDNF, which were closely correlated with decreases in hippocampal long-term potentiation. In mice, down-regulation of BDNF appeared to occur through the action of gene-methylating enzymes that are already increased above controls in prenatally-stressed neonates. In conclusion, the data obtained so far from experiments in rodents lend support to a physiological basis for the neurodevelopmental hypothesis of schizophrenia and depression.
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Taban E, Mortazavi SB, Vosoughi S, Khavanin A, Asilian Mahabadi H. Noise Exposure Effects on Blood Glucose, Cortisol and Weight Changes in the Male Mice. HEALTH SCOPE 2016. [DOI: 10.17795/jhealthscope-36108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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36
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Are there physiological constraints on maternal ability to adjust sex ratios in mammals? J Zool (1987) 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
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Grundwald NJ, Brunton PJ. Prenatal stress programs neuroendocrine stress responses and affective behaviors in second generation rats in a sex-dependent manner. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2015; 62:204-16. [PMID: 26318631 PMCID: PMC4642655 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2015.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2015] [Revised: 08/05/2015] [Accepted: 08/13/2015] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
An adverse environment in early life is often associated with dysregulation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and higher rates of mood disorders in adulthood. In rats, exposure to social stress during pregnancy results in hyperactive HPA axis responses to stress in the adult offspring and heightened anxiety behavior in the males, but not the females. Here we tested whether, without further intervention, the effects of prenatal stress (PNS) in the first filial generation (F1) are transmitted to the F2 generation via the maternal line. F1 control and PNS female rats were mated with control males and housed under non-stress conditions throughout pregnancy. HPA axis responses to acute stress, anxiety- and depressive-like behavior were assessed in the adult F2 offspring. ACTH and corticosterone responses to an acute stressor were markedly enhanced in F2 PNS females compared with controls. This was associated with greater corticotropin releasing hormone (Crh) mRNA expression in the paraventricular nucleus and reduced hippocampal glucocorticoid (Gr) and mineralocorticoid receptor (Mr) mRNA expression. Conversely, in the F2 PNS males, HPA axis responses to acute stress were attenuated and hippocampal Gr mRNA expression was greater compared with controls. F2 PNS males exhibited heightened anxiety-like behavior (light-dark box and elevated plus maze) compared with F2 control males. Anxiety-like behavior did not differ between F2 control and PNS females during metestrus/diestrus, however at proestrus/estrus, F2 control females displayed a reduction in anxiety-like behavior, but this effect was not observed in the F2 PNS females. Heightened anxiety in the F2 PNS males was associated with greater Crh mRNA expression in the central nucleus of the amygdala compared with controls. Moreover, Crh receptor-1 (Crhr1) mRNA expression was significantly increased, whereas Crhr2 mRNA was significantly decreased in discrete regions of the amygdala in F2 PNS males compared with controls, with no differences in the F2 females. No differences in depressive-like behavior (sucrose preference or forced swim test) were observed in either sex. In conclusion, the effects of maternal stress during pregnancy on HPA axis regulation and anxiety-like behavior can be transmitted to future generations in a sex-dependent manner. These data have implications for human neuropsychiatric disorders with developmental origins.
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Entringer S, Buss C, Wadhwa PD. Prenatal stress, development, health and disease risk: A psychobiological perspective-2015 Curt Richter Award Paper. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2015; 62:366-75. [PMID: 26372770 PMCID: PMC4674548 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2015.08.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 187] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2015] [Accepted: 08/19/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The long-term consequences of exposure to excess stress, particularly during sensitive developmental windows, on the initiation and progression of many complex, common physical and mental disorders that confer a major global burden of disease are well established. The period of intrauterine life represents among the most sensitive of these windows, at which time the effects of stress may be transmitted inter-generationally from a mother to her as-yet-unborn child. As explicated by the concept of fetal or developmental programming of health and disease susceptibility, a growing body of evidence supports the notion that health and disease susceptibility is determined by the dynamic interplay between genetic makeup and environment, particularly during intrauterine and early postnatal life. Except in extreme cases, an adverse intrauterine exposure may not, per se, 'cause' disease, but, instead, may determine propensity for disease(s) in later life (by shaping phenotypic responsivity to endogenous and exogenous disease-related risk conditions). Accumulating evidence suggests that maternal psychological and social stress during pregnancy represents one such condition that may adversely affect the developing child, with important implications for a diverse range of physical and mental health outcomes. In this paper we review primarily our own contributions to the field of maternal stress during pregnancy and child mental and physical health-related outcomes. We present findings on stress-related maternal-placental-fetal endocrine and immune/inflammatory processes that may mediate the effects of various adverse conditions during pregnancy on the developing human embryo and fetus. We enunciate conceptual and methodological issues related to the assessment of stress during pregnancy and discuss potential mechanisms of intergenerational transmission of the effects of stress. Lastly, we describe on-going research and some future directions of our program.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonja Entringer
- Department of Medical Psychology, Charité University Medicine Berlin, Luisenstraβe 57, 10117 Berlin, Germany; Departments of Pediatrics, University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine, 3117 Gillespie Neuroscience Research Facility (GNRF), 837 Health Sciences Road Irvine, CA 92697, USA.
| | - Claudia Buss
- Department of Medical Psychology, Charité University Medicine Berlin, Luisenstraβe 57, 10117 Berlin, Germany; Departments of Pediatrics, University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine, 3117 Gillespie Neuroscience Research Facility (GNRF), 837 Health Sciences Road Irvine, CA 92697, USA.
| | - Pathik D. Wadhwa
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Irvine, 3117
Gillespie Neuroscience Research Facility (GNRF), 837 Health Sciences Drive, Mail
Code: 4260, Irvine, CA 92697, USA,Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of California,
Irvine, 3117 Gillespie Neuroscience Research Facility (GNRF), 837 Health Sciences
Drive, Mail Code: 4260, Irvine, CA 92697, USA,Department of Epidemiology, University of California, Irvine, 3117
Gillespie Neuroscience Research Facility (GNRF), 837 Health Sciences Drive, Mail
Code: 4260, Irvine, CA 92697, USA,Department of Psychiatry & Human Behavior, University of
California, Irvine, 3117 Gillespie Neuroscience Research Facility (GNRF), 837 Health
Sciences Drive, Mail Code: 4260, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
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Vey LT, Rosa HZ, Barcelos RCS, Segat HJ, Metz VG, Dias VT, Duarte T, Duarte MMMF, Burger ME. Stress during the gestational period modifies pups' emotionality parameters and favors preference for morphine in adolescent rats. Behav Brain Res 2015; 296:408-417. [PMID: 26300452 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2015.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2015] [Revised: 08/11/2015] [Accepted: 08/15/2015] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Experimental animal studies have shown that early life periods are highly vulnerable to environmental factors, which may exert prolonged impact on HPA axis function and on subsequent neurochemical and behavioral responses in adulthood. Here we evaluated the influence of environmental stressful situations in two different early life stages on stress-related behaviors, and morphine-conditioned place preference (CPP), which is indicative of addiction. While in the gestational stress (Gest-S) dams were exposed to daily sessions of chronic mild stress (CMS) for 2 weeks, in the postnatal stress (post-NS) the offspring were exposed daily to neonatal isolation from postnatal day (PND) 2 to PND 9 for 60 min. Animals exposed to post-NS showed lesser anxiety in different behavioral paradigms (elevated plus maze-EPM and defensive burying test-DBT) as well as increased exploratory behavior (open-field task-OFT), and no preference for morphine in CPP. In contrast, animals exposed to Gest-S showed increased corticosterone plasma levels together with anxiety symptoms and greater preference for morphine following three days of drug withdrawal. Our findings indicate that the gestational period is critical for stress, whose effects may be manifest throughout life. On the other hand, post-NS can trigger neuroadaptations able to overcome emotional consequences of early life. We hypothesized that Gest-S is able to modify responses to opioids along adulthood, which may facilitate development of addiction to these drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciana Taschetto Vey
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Bioquímica Toxicológica, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Av. Roraima, 1000, Prédio 18, Cidade Universitária, CEP 97105-900 Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | - Higor Zuquetto Rosa
- Departamento de Fisiologia e Farmacologia, UFSM, Av. Roraima, 1000, Prédio 21, Cidade Universitária, CEP 97105-900 Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | - Raquel Cristine Silva Barcelos
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Farmacologia UFSM, Av. Roraima, 1000, Prédio 21, Cidade Universitária, CEP 97105-900 Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | - Hecson Jesser Segat
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Bioquímica Toxicológica, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Av. Roraima, 1000, Prédio 18, Cidade Universitária, CEP 97105-900 Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | - Vinícia Garzella Metz
- Departamento de Fisiologia e Farmacologia, UFSM, Av. Roraima, 1000, Prédio 21, Cidade Universitária, CEP 97105-900 Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | - Verônica Tironi Dias
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Farmacologia UFSM, Av. Roraima, 1000, Prédio 21, Cidade Universitária, CEP 97105-900 Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | - Thiago Duarte
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Farmacologia UFSM, Av. Roraima, 1000, Prédio 21, Cidade Universitária, CEP 97105-900 Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | - Marta M M F Duarte
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Farmacologia UFSM, Av. Roraima, 1000, Prédio 21, Cidade Universitária, CEP 97105-900 Santa Maria, RS, Brazil; Lutheran University of Brazil (ULBRA), Santa Maria, Brazil
| | - Marilise Escobar Burger
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Bioquímica Toxicológica, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Av. Roraima, 1000, Prédio 18, Cidade Universitária, CEP 97105-900 Santa Maria, RS, Brazil; Programa de Pós Graduação em Farmacologia UFSM, Av. Roraima, 1000, Prédio 21, Cidade Universitária, CEP 97105-900 Santa Maria, RS, Brazil; Departamento de Fisiologia e Farmacologia, UFSM, Av. Roraima, 1000, Prédio 21, Cidade Universitária, CEP 97105-900 Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
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Eraslan E, Akyazi I, Erg L-Ekiz E, Matur E. Noise stress changes mRNA expressions of corticotropin-releasing hormone, its receptors in amygdala, and anxiety-related behaviors. Noise Health 2015; 17:141-7. [PMID: 25913553 PMCID: PMC4918649 DOI: 10.4103/1463-1741.155838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Noise is a psychological, environmental stressor that activates limbic sites in the brain. Limbic sites such as the amygdala and the amygdaloid corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) system play an important role in integrating stress response. We investigated the association between noise exposures, CRH-related molecules in the amygdala, and behavioral alterations. In total 54 Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into the following three groups: Control (CON), acute noise exposure (ANE), and chronic noise exposure (CNE). The ANE group was exposed to 100 dB white noise only once in 4 h and the CNE group was exposed to the same for 4 h per day for 30 days. Expression profiles of CRH and its receptors CRH-R1 and CRH-R2 were analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). The same stress procedure was applied to the ANE and CNE groups for behavior testing. The anxiety responses of the animals after acute and chronic stress exposure were measured in the defensive withdrawal test. CNE upregulated CRH and CRH-R1 mRNA levels but downregulated CRH-R2 mRNA levels. ANE led to a decrease in both CRH-R1 and CRH-R2 expression. In the defensive withdrawal test, while the ANE increased, CNE reduced anxiety-like behaviors. The present study shows that the exposure of rats to white noise (100 dB) leads to behavioral alterations and molecule-specific changes in the CRH system. Behavioral alterations can be related to these molecular changes in the amygdala.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evren Eraslan
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
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41
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St-Cyr S, McGowan PO. Programming of stress-related behavior and epigenetic neural gene regulation in mice offspring through maternal exposure to predator odor. Front Behav Neurosci 2015; 9:145. [PMID: 26082698 PMCID: PMC4450170 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2015.00145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2015] [Accepted: 05/17/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Perinatal stress mediated through the mother can lead to long-term alterations in stress-related phenotypes in offspring. The capacity for adaptation to adversity in early life depends in part on the life history of the animal. This study was designed to examine the behavioral and neural response in adult offspring to prenatal exposure to predator odor: an ethologically-relevant psychological stressor. Pregnant mice were exposed daily to predator odors or distilled water control over the second half of the pregnancy. Predator odor exposure lead to a transient decrease in maternal care in the mothers. As adults, the offspring of predator odor-exposed mothers showed increased anti-predator behavior, a predator-odor induced decrease in activity and, in female offspring, an increased corticosterone (CORT) response to predator odor exposure. We found a highly specific response among stress-related genes within limbic brain regions. Transcript abundance of Corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor 1 (CRHR1) was elevated in the amygdala in adult female offspring of predator odor-exposed mothers. In the hippocampus of adult female offspring, decreased Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) transcript abundance was correlated with a site-specific decrease in DNA methylation in Bdnf exon IV, indicating the potential contribution of this epigenetic mechanism to maternal programming by maternal predator odor exposure. These data indicate that maternal predator odor exposure alone is sufficient to induce an altered stress-related phenotype in adulthood, with implications for anti-predator behavior in offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie St-Cyr
- Department of Biological Sciences and Center for Environmental Epigenetics and Development, Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Patrick O McGowan
- Department of Biological Sciences and Center for Environmental Epigenetics and Development, Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto Toronto, ON, Canada ; Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Toronto, ON, Canada ; Department of Physiology, University of Toronto Toronto, ON, Canada
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42
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Brunton PJ. Programming the brain and behaviour by early-life stress: a focus on neuroactive steroids. J Neuroendocrinol 2015; 27:468-80. [PMID: 25688636 DOI: 10.1111/jne.12265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2014] [Revised: 02/11/2015] [Accepted: 02/11/2015] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Animal studies have amply demonstrated that stress exposure during pregnancy or in early postnatal life can adversely influence brain development and have long-term 'programming' effects on future brain function and behaviour. Furthermore, a growing body of evidence from human studies supports the hypothesis that some psychiatric disorders may have developmental origins. Here, the focus is on three adverse consequences of early-life stress: dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, heightened anxiety behaviour and cognitive impairments, with review of what is known about the underlying central mechanisms. Neuroactive steroids modulate neuronal activity and play a key role in neurodevelopment. Moreover they can negatively modulate activity of the HPA axis, exert anxiolytic actions and influence cognitive performance. Thus, neuroactive steroids may provide a link between early-life stress and the resultant adverse effects on the brain and behaviour. Here, a role for neuroactive steroids, in particular the 5α-reduced/3α-hydroxylated metabolites of progesterone, testosterone and deoxycorticosterone, is discussed in the context of early-life stress. Furthermore, the impact of early-life stress on the brain's capacity to generate neurosteroids is considered and the evidence for an ability of neuroactive steroids to over-write the negative effects of early-life stress on the brain and behaviour is examined. An enhanced understanding of the influence of early-life stress on brain neurosteroid systems could aid the identification of new targets for developing treatments for stress-related conditions in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- P J Brunton
- Division of Neurobiology, The Roslin Institute & R(D)SVS, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, UK
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43
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Zohar I, Dosoretz-Abittan L, Shoham S, Weinstock M. Sex dependent reduction by prenatal stress of the expression of 5HT1A receptors in the prefrontal cortex and CRF type 2 receptors in the raphe nucleus in rats: reversal by citalopram. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2015; 232:1643-53. [PMID: 25420605 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-014-3803-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2014] [Accepted: 10/27/2014] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Alterations in the serotonergic transmission and activity of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) family may underlie anxiety and depressive disorders. These could be corrected by treatment with SSRIs. OBJECTIVES The objective of the current study is to determine whether the increased anxiety of prenatally stressed (PS) rats of both sexes is associated with changes in 5HT1A and CRF type 2 receptors (5HT1AR and CRFR2) in the prefrontal cortex (PFC)-dorsal raphe nuclei (DRN) axis, and how these are affected by chronic treatment with citalopram (10 mg/kg/day). We focussed on GABAergic cells that co-express parvalbumin and/or neuropeptide Y, and 5HT1AR in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and on cells that express 5HT, parvalbumin, 5HT1AR or CRFR2 in the DRN. RESULTS Immunohistochemistry with fluorescent antibodies demonstrated sex differences in the expression of 5HT1AR and CRFR2 protein. Prenatal stress selectively reduced the expression of 5HT1AR on GABAergic cells in the mPFC in males and that of CRFR2 in the DRN of females. Citalopram treatment for 5 weeks abolished the increase in anxiety in both sexes, restored the intensity of expression of 5HT1AR in the mPFC in males and increased their expression in the mPFC and DRN in females. Citalopram reduced CRFR2 expression in control and PS males but increased it in PS females. CONCLUSIONS Male and female rats show differences in the expression of 5HT1AR and CRFR2 protein that are selectively reduced by prenatal stress. Reversal by citalopram of the changes in the expression of these receptors induced by prenatal stress support their role in the aetiology of anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inbar Zohar
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Drug Research, Hebrew University Medical Centre, Ein Kerem, Jerusalem, 91120, Israel
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44
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Said N, Lakehayli S, Khachibi ME, Ouahli ME, Nadifi S, Hakkou F, Tazi A. Effect of prenatal stress on memory, nicotine withdrawal and 5HT1A expression in raphe nuclei of adult rats. Int J Dev Neurosci 2015; 43:92-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2015.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2015] [Revised: 03/28/2015] [Accepted: 04/16/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- N. Said
- Laboratory of PharmacologyFaculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Casablanca19 Rue Tarik Bnou ZiadCasablancaMorocco
| | - S. Lakehayli
- Laboratory of PharmacologyFaculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Casablanca19 Rue Tarik Bnou ZiadCasablancaMorocco
| | - M. El Khachibi
- Genetics and Molecular Pathology LaboratoryFaculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Casablanca19 Rue Tarik Bnou ZiadCasablancaMorocco
| | - M. El Ouahli
- Sultan My Slimane UniversityFac Sciences & Tecniques Beni‐MellalLife SciencesMorocco
| | - S. Nadifi
- Genetics and Molecular Pathology LaboratoryFaculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Casablanca19 Rue Tarik Bnou ZiadCasablancaMorocco
| | - F. Hakkou
- Laboratory of PharmacologyFaculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Casablanca19 Rue Tarik Bnou ZiadCasablancaMorocco
| | - A. Tazi
- Laboratory of PharmacologyFaculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Casablanca19 Rue Tarik Bnou ZiadCasablancaMorocco
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Ergang P, Vodička M, Soták M, Klusoňová P, Behuliak M, Řeháková L, Zach P, Pácha J. Differential impact of stress on hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis: gene expression changes in Lewis and Fisher rats. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2015; 53:49-59. [PMID: 25591115 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2014.12.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2014] [Revised: 12/18/2014] [Accepted: 12/18/2014] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
The aim of the present work was to study the influence of variable stress on the expression of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11HSD1) and the neuropeptides corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), urocortins 2 and 3(UCN2, UCN3), arginine vasopressin (AVP), oxytocin (OXT) and adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) in two inbred rat strains: stress hypo-responsive Lewis (LEW) and hyper-responsive Fisher 344 (F344) rats. We found site-specific and strain-dependent differences in the basal and stress-stimulated expression of 11HSD1, CRH, UCN2, UCN3 and PACAP. In LEW rats, stress upregulated 11HSD1 in the prefrontal cortex and lateral amygdala, whereas in F344 rats 11HSD1 was upregulated in the central amygdala and hippocampal CA2 and ventral but not dorsal CA1 region; no effect was observed in the paraventricular nucleus, pituitary gland and adrenal cortex of both strains. The expression of glucocorticoid receptors did not parallel the upregulation of 11HSD1. Stress also stimulated the expression of paraventricular OXT, CRH, UCN3 and PACAP in both strains but amygdalar CRH only in LEW and UCN2/UCN3 in F344 rats, respectively. The upregulation of PACAP and CRH was paralleled only by increased expression of PACAP receptor PAC1 but not CRH receptor type 1. These observations provide evidence that inbred F344 and LEW rats exhibit not only the well-known phenotypic differences in the activity of the HPA axis but also strain- and stress-dependent differences in the expression of genes encoding 11HSD1 and neuropeptides associated with the HPA axis activity. Moreover, the differences in 11HSD1 expression suggest different local concentration of corticosterone and access to GR in canonical and noncanonical structures of the HPA axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Ergang
- Institute of Physiology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Vídeňská 1083, CZ-14220 Prague 4, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Vodička
- Institute of Physiology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Vídeňská 1083, CZ-14220 Prague 4, Czech Republic; Department of Physiology, Faculty of Science, Viničná 7, CZ-12844 Prague 2, Czech Republic
| | - Matúš Soták
- Institute of Physiology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Vídeňská 1083, CZ-14220 Prague 4, Czech Republic
| | - Petra Klusoňová
- Institute of Physiology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Vídeňská 1083, CZ-14220 Prague 4, Czech Republic
| | - Michal Behuliak
- Institute of Physiology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Vídeňská 1083, CZ-14220 Prague 4, Czech Republic
| | - Lenka Řeháková
- Institute of Physiology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Vídeňská 1083, CZ-14220 Prague 4, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Zach
- Institute of Anatomy, Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Ruská 87, CZ-10000 Prague 10, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Pácha
- Institute of Physiology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Vídeňská 1083, CZ-14220 Prague 4, Czech Republic; Department of Physiology, Faculty of Science, Viničná 7, CZ-12844 Prague 2, Czech Republic.
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Wang Y, Ma Y, Cheng W, Jiang H, Zhang X, Li M, Ren J, Zhang X, Li X. Sexual differences in long‐term effects of prenatal chronic mild stress on anxiety‐like behavior and stress‐induced regional glutamate receptor expression in rat offspring. Int J Dev Neurosci 2015; 41:80-91. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2015.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2014] [Revised: 01/27/2015] [Accepted: 01/27/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Yan Wang
- College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Applied psychologyChina Medical UniversityShenyang110001China
| | - Yuchao Ma
- College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Applied psychologyChina Medical UniversityShenyang110001China
| | - Wenwen Cheng
- College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Applied psychologyChina Medical UniversityShenyang110001China
| | - Han Jiang
- Department of PsychiatryThe First Hospital of China Medical UniversityShenyang110001China
| | - Xinxin Zhang
- The Research Center for Medical GenomicsKey Laboratory of Cell Biology, Ministry of Public Health, Key Laboratory of Medical Cell Biology, Ministry of EducationChina Medical UniversityShenyang110001China
| | - Min Li
- College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Applied psychologyChina Medical UniversityShenyang110001China
| | - Jintao Ren
- College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Applied psychologyChina Medical UniversityShenyang110001China
| | - Xiaosong Zhang
- College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Applied psychologyChina Medical UniversityShenyang110001China
| | - Xiaobai Li
- Department of PsychiatryThe First Hospital of China Medical UniversityShenyang110001China
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Zhang Z, Zhang H, Du B, Chen Z. Enriched environment upregulates growth-associated protein 43 expression in the hippocampus and enhances cognitive abilities in prenatally stressed rat offspring. Neural Regen Res 2015; 7:1967-73. [PMID: 25624826 PMCID: PMC4298891 DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-5374.2012.25.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2012] [Accepted: 07/10/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In our previous study, we reported that prenatal restraint stress could induce cognitive deficits, which correlated with a change in expression of growth-associated protein 43 in the hippocampus. In this study, we investigated the effects of enriched environment on cognitive abilities in prenatally stressed rat offspring, as well as the underlying mechanisms. Reverse transcription-PCR and western blot assay results revealed that growth-associated protein 43 mRNA and protein levels were upregulated on postnatal day 15 in the prenatal restraint stress group. Growth-associated protein 43 expression was significantly lower in the prenatal restraint stress group compared with the negative control and prenatal restraint stress plus enriched environment groups on postnatal days 30 and 50. Morris water maze test demonstrated that cognitive abilities were noticeably increased in rats from the prenatal restraint stress plus enriched environment group on postnatal day 50. These results indicate that enriched environment can improve the spatial learning and memory ability of prenatally stressed offspring by upregulating growth-associated protein 43 expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengyu Zhang
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510185, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Hua Zhang
- Department of Stomatology, First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510630, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Baoling Du
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510185, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Zhiqiang Chen
- Department of Orthopedics Surgery, Liaocheng People's Hospital, Liaocheng 252000, Shandong Province, China
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48
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Pagliaccio D, Luby JL, Bogdan R, Agrawal A, Gaffrey MS, Belden AC, Botteron KN, Harms MP, Barch DM. HPA axis genetic variation, pubertal status, and sex interact to predict amygdala and hippocampus responses to negative emotional faces in school-age children. Neuroimage 2015; 109:1-11. [PMID: 25583614 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2015.01.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2014] [Revised: 12/30/2014] [Accepted: 01/02/2015] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Accumulating evidence suggests a role for stress exposure, particularly during early life, and for variation in genes involved in stress response pathways in neural responsivity to emotional stimuli. Understanding how individual differences in these factors predict differences in emotional responsivity may be important for understanding both normative emotional development and for understanding the mechanisms underlying internalizing disorders, like anxiety and depression, that have often been related to increased amygdala and hippocampus responses to negatively valenced emotional stimuli. The present study examined whether stress exposure and genetic profile scores (10 single nucleotide polymorphisms within four hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis genes: CRHR1, NR3C2, NR3C1, and FKBP5) predict individual differences in amygdala and hippocampus responses to fearful vs. neutral faces in school-age children (7-12 year olds; N = 107). Experience of more stressful and traumatic life events predicted greater left amygdala responses to negative emotional stimuli. Genetic profile scores interacted with sex and pubertal status to predict amygdala and hippocampus responses. Specifically, genetic profile scores were a stronger predictor of amygdala and hippocampus responses among pubertal vs. prepubertal children where they positively predicted responses to fearful faces among pubertal girls and positively predicted responses to neutral faces among pubertal boys. The current results suggest that genetic and environmental stress-related factors may be important in normative individual differences in responsivity to negative emotional stimuli, a potential mechanism underlying internalizing disorders. Further, sex and pubertal development may be key moderators of the effects of stress-system genetic variation on amygdala and hippocampus responsivity, potentially relating to sex differences in stress-related psychopathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Pagliaccio
- The Program in Neuroscience, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, United States.
| | - Joan L Luby
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, United States
| | - Ryan Bogdan
- The Program in Neuroscience, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, United States; Department of Psychology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, United States
| | - Arpana Agrawal
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, United States
| | - Michael S Gaffrey
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, United States
| | - Andrew C Belden
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, United States
| | - Kelly N Botteron
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, United States; Department of Radiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, United States
| | - Michael P Harms
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, United States
| | - Deanna M Barch
- The Program in Neuroscience, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, United States; Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, United States; Department of Psychology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, United States; Department of Radiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, United States
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Changes induced by prenatal stress in behavior and brain morphology: can they be prevented or reversed? ADVANCES IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2015; 10:3-25. [PMID: 25287533 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-1372-5_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
This chapter presents a critical analysis of the behavioral alterations reported in the offspring of women exposed to stress and/or depression during pregnancy and the neurochemical and structural changes underlying them. Among the alterations attributed to prenatal stress in humans and experimental rats of both sexes is impaired regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, anxiety and exaggerated fear of novelty, and decreased social interaction. Learning and attention deficits are more prevalent in boys and male rats. Fear of novelty and anxiety are associated with enlargement of the amygdala and its corticotropin-releasing factor content, and decreased socialization, with lower oxytocin activity in the amygdala. Learning deficits are associated with a decrease in neurogenesis, dendritic complexity, and spine number in the dorsal hippocampus. Fostering prenatally stressed (PS) pups onto control mothers prevents the dysregulation of the HPA axis and heightened anxiety, indicating a role for postnatal factors in their etiology. By contrast, learning impairment and decreased socialization are not affected by this fostering procedure and are therefore prenatally mediated.In spite of their widespread use in depressed pregnant women, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants do not normalize the behavior of their children. When administered during gestation to stressed rats, SSRIs do not reduce anxiety or learning deficits in their offspring. Moreover, when given to unstressed mothers, SSRIs induce anxiety in the offspring. The detrimental effect of SSRIs may result from inhibition of the serotonin transporter exposing the brain to excess amounts of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) at a critical time during fetal development.
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Sharp H, Hill J, Hellier J, Pickles A. Maternal antenatal anxiety, postnatal stroking and emotional problems in children: outcomes predicted from pre- and postnatal programming hypotheses. Psychol Med 2015; 45:269-283. [PMID: 25068652 PMCID: PMC4301199 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291714001342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2013] [Revised: 05/08/2014] [Accepted: 05/15/2014] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mothers' self-reported stroking of their infants over the first weeks of life modifies the association between prenatal depression and physiological and emotional reactivity at 7 months, consistent with animal studies of the effects of tactile stimulation. We now investigate whether the effects of maternal stroking persist to 2.5 years. Given animal and human evidence for sex differences in the effects of prenatal stress we compare associations in boys and girls. METHOD From a general population sample of 1233 first-time mothers recruited at 20 weeks gestation we drew a random sample of 316 for assessment at 32 weeks, stratified by reported inter-partner psychological abuse, a risk indicator for child development. Of these mothers, 243 reported at 5 and 9 weeks how often they stroked their infants, and completed the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) at 2.5 years post-delivery. RESULTS There was a significant interaction between prenatal anxiety and maternal stroking in the prediction of CBCL internalizing (p = 0.001) and anxious/depressed scores (p < 0.001). The effects were stronger in females than males, and the three-way interaction prenatal anxiety × maternal stroking × sex of infant was significant for internalizing symptoms (p = 0.003). The interactions arose from an association between prenatal anxiety and internalizing symptoms only in the presence of low maternal stroking. CONCLUSIONS The findings are consistent with stable epigenetic effects, many sex specific, reported in animal studies. While epigenetic mechanisms may be underlying the associations, it remains to be established whether stroking affects gene expression in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- H. Sharp
- Institute of Psychology, Health and Society, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - J. Hill
- Institute of Brain, Behaviour and Mental Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - J. Hellier
- Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK
| | - A. Pickles
- Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK
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