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Published on: November 20, 2015
Postnatal repeated maternal deprivation produces age-dependent changes of brain-derived neurotrophic factor
Mila Roceri1, Francesca Cirulli, Cassandra Pessina
1Department of Pharmacological Sciences and Center of Excellence for Neurodegenerative Disorders, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
Insights
Early life stress from maternal deprivation (MD) reduces brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in adult brains, potentially increasing vulnerability to psychiatric disorders. This reduction may protect against further stress later in life.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Molecular Psychiatry
Background:
- Adverse early-life events can disrupt brain development and increase susceptibility to psychiatric disorders.
- Understanding persistent neurobiological changes from early stress is key for developing new treatments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the long-term effects of postnatal maternal deprivation (MD) on brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels.
- To determine how MD impacts neurotrophin expression in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex at different life stages.
Main Methods:
- Postnatal repeated maternal deprivation (MD) was administered from postnatal day (PND) 2-14.
- RNase protection assays and ELISA were used to measure neurotrophin expression.
- Brain tissue from different ages, including adulthood, was analyzed.
Main Results:
- MD caused a temporary increase in neurotrophin expression in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex by PND 17.
- In adulthood, MD led to a specific decrease in BDNF expression in the prefrontal cortex.
- Adult MD animals showed reduced BDNF levels in the prefrontal cortex and striatum, unlike control animals under chronic swim stress.
Conclusions:
- Maternal deprivation (MD) significantly reduces BDNF expression in the adult prefrontal cortex and striatum.
- This reduction in BDNF may decrease neural plasticity, making these brain regions more vulnerable to stress.
- The findings highlight a potential mechanism linking early-life stress to long-term psychiatric vulnerability.
Background:
Adverse life events occurring early in development may alter the correct program of brain maturation and render the organism more vulnerable to psychiatric disorders. Identification of persistent changes associated with these events is crucial for the development of novel therapeutic strategies.
Methods:
We used postnatal repeated maternal deprivation (MD) from postnatal day (PND) 2-14 to investigate changes in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels. RNase protection assay and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay were employed to determine the anatomic profile of neurotrophin expression at different ages following MD.
Results:
We found that MD produces a short-term up-regulation of neurotrophin expression in hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, as measured on PND 17, whereas at adulthood, a selective reduction of BDNF expression was observed in prefrontal cortex. When adult animals were challenged with a chronic swim stress paradigm, both a reduced expression of BDNF in prefrontal cortex and a significant reduction in striatal protein levels were found only in control subjects, whereas levels in the MD group were not further decreased.
Conclusions:
Our data suggest that MD produces a significant reduction of BDNF expression within prefrontal cortex and striatum, which may render these structures less plastic and more vulnerable under challenging conditions.
