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Maternal separation effects on mother rodents' behaviour: A systematic review
Renata L Alves1, Camila Cabral Portugal2, Teresa Summavielle3
1Addiction Biology, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S) and Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), Universidade do Porto, Porto, 4200-135, Portugal; Laboratory of Neuropsychophysiology, Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences (FPCEUP), University of Porto, Porto, 4200-135, Portugal.
Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews
|September 10, 2019
Summary
Maternal separation (MS) in rodents alters maternal behavior and increases anxiety and depression-like symptoms in dams. This review highlights the need for standardized methods in studying early-life adversity effects on mothers.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Behavioral Science
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Maternal separation (MS) models early-life adversity, primarily studying offspring effects.
- The impact of MS on maternal behavior itself is less understood but crucial for a complete picture.
- Altered maternal behavior can influence offspring development and psychopathology risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and compile the effects of maternal separation on maternal behavior.
- To identify changes in maternal anxiety, depression-like behavior, and memory.
- To assess consequences on underlying neurobiological mechanisms.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature search using Boolean operators and manual search.
- Database searches conducted between 2000 and 2018.
- Extraction of methodological aspects and conclusions from 29 selected articles.
Main Results:
- Maternal separation significantly alters maternal behavior in dams.
- Robust evidence indicates increased anxiety and depression-like symptoms following MS.
- Longer durations of MS are associated with more pronounced behavioral changes.
Conclusions:
- Maternal separation induces notable behavioral and emotional changes in mothers.
- Standardized research guidelines are needed to address methodological inconsistencies.
- Further research should focus on the bidirectional effects of MS on dams and offspring.