Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 9, 2026
06:39
Using a Murine Model of Psychosocial Stress in Pregnancy as a Translationally Relevant Paradigm for Psychiatric Disorders in Mothers and Infants
Published on: June 13, 2021
Repeated acute exposures to hypergravity during early development subtly affect CD-1 mouse neurobehavioural profile
Nadia Francia1, Michelle Simeoni, Simona Petruzzi
1Behavioural Neurosciences Section, Department of Cell Biology and Neurosciences, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, I-00161 Roma, Italy.
Brain Research Bulletin
|May 2, 2006
Summary
Early life exposure to hypergravity in mice can alter nervous system development and behavior, with effects varying by sex and maternal experience. These changes impact sensorimotor skills, spatial learning strategies, and neurotrophin levels.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Space Biology
Background:
- Altered gravitational environments can impact nervous system development and behavior, particularly during critical early life stages.
- Understanding these effects is crucial for space exploration and potential human adaptation to microgravity or hypergravity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of rotation-induced hypergravity on the developing nervous system and behavior of mouse pups.
- To assess the influence of maternal parity (first-time vs. experienced mothers) on offspring responses to hypergravity.
Main Methods:
- Mouse pups (CD-1) from primiparous and biparous dams were exposed to 2G hypergravity from postnatal day 2 to 9.
- Evaluated sensorimotor responses, somatic growth, ultrasonic vocalizations, homing behavior, spatial orientation, and exploratory activity.
- Assessed long-term spatial learning (Morris water-maze) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor (NGF) levels in adulthood.
Main Results:
- Rotation exposure delayed somatic growth, sensorimotor development, and altered vocalizations.
- Hypergravity exposure revealed sex differences in open-field behavior and affected spatial learning strategies and reversal learning.
- Early rotation decreased hypothalamic BDNF, while hypergravity reduced frontal cortex NGF; maternal parity influenced sensorimotor and exploratory development.
Conclusions:
- Early-life hypergravity exposure induces persistent neurodevelopmental and behavioral changes in mice, with sex-specific effects.
- Spatial learning strategies and specific behavioral profiles are more susceptible than overall learning ability.
- Maternal experience plays a role in offspring sensorimotor and exploratory development, but does not interact with hypergravity effects.
