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Prepubertal stress and hippocampal function: sex-specific effects.

Nichola M Brydges1, Emma R Wood, Megan C Holmes

  • 1Centre for Cardiovascular Science, QMRI, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom; Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, Hadyn Ellis Building, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, United Kingdom.

Hippocampus
|March 29, 2014
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Summary

Early life stress, particularly during the prepubertal phase, can increase the risk of adult psychiatric disorders. This study shows prepubertal stress alters adult hippocampal function in a sex-specific manner.

Keywords:
behaviorcontextual fearearly life stresssex differencesspatial navigation

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Psychiatry
  • Developmental Psychology

Background:

  • Early life stress is linked to adult psychiatric disorders.
  • Prepubertal stress may alter brain development, increasing vulnerability.
  • The hippocampus is a key brain region affected by stress.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if prepubertal stress alters hippocampal function in adulthood.
  • To examine sex-specific effects of prepubertal stress on behavior.
  • To test the hypothesis of long-lasting changes in hippocampal function.

Main Methods:

  • Used an animal model (rats) of brief, variable prepubertal stress (postnatal days 25-27).
  • Assessed adult performance in hippocampal-dependent tasks: contextual fear and spatial navigation.
  • Compared stressed rats with control groups, analyzing sex differences.

Main Results:

  • Prepubertal stress impaired contextual fear responses in adult males.
  • Prepubertal stress enhanced spatial navigation performance in adult females.
  • Demonstrated sex-specific alterations in hippocampal-dependent behaviors.

Conclusions:

  • A brief prepubertal stress exposure induces lasting changes in hippocampal function.
  • These behavioral alterations manifest in adulthood in a sex-specific manner.
  • Findings support the hypothesis linking early stress to adult vulnerability via hippocampal changes.