Effects of early experience and dexamethasone on adrenocortical reactivity

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Fecal Glucocorticoid Analysis: Non-invasive Adrenal Monitoring in Equids
08:02

Fecal Glucocorticoid Analysis: Non-invasive Adrenal Monitoring in Equids

Published on: April 25, 2016

L J Grota

    Developmental Psychobiology
    |May 1, 1975
    PubMed

    Insights

    Early life shock does not alter long-term adrenocortical reactivity via maternal or infant hormone changes. Blocking adrenocortical responses with dexamethasone in infant rats showed no mediation by circulating hormones.

    Area of Science:

    • Neuroendocrinology
    • Developmental Psychology
    • Behavioral Science

    Background:

    • Early life stress is known to have long-term effects on the neuroendocrine system.
    • The role of adrenocortical hormones in mediating these effects is not fully understood.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To test the hypothesis that changes in circulating adrenocortical hormones mediate the long-term effects of early life shock.
    • To investigate the involvement of both maternal and infant adrenocortical responses.

    Main Methods:

    • Infant rats were exposed to peripheral shock stimulation.
    • Dexamethasone was administered to mothers via drinking water to block adrenocortical responses in both mothers and pups.
    • Control experiments confirmed dexamethasone presence in pups.

    Main Results:

    • Shock exposure reduced adrenocortical reactivity regardless of whether the mother, the young, or both could mount an adrenocortical response.
    • Dexamethasone effectively blocked adrenocortical responses to shock stimulation.

    Conclusions:

    • The findings do not support the hypothesis that pituitary-adrenocortical responses in either the mother or the infant mediate the effects of early life stimulation on subsequent adrenocortical reactivity.
    • Alternative mechanisms may underlie the long-term effects of early life stress on adrenocortical function.

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