Early-Life Stress Reprograms Stress-Coping Abilities in Male and Female Juvenile Rats

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Developmental Psychology
• Endocrinology

Background:

• Prenatal stress (PS) is a significant risk factor for adult emotional disorders, potentially via altered stress response.
• Early-onset stress-related disorders are a public health concern, yet early-life stressors in juveniles are understudied.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of prenatal stress on juvenile offspring's stress coping.
• To examine molecular changes in the hippocampus and maternal behavior following prenatal stress.

Main Methods:

• Behavioral tests were used to assess stress-coping in juvenile offspring.
• Hippocampal gene expression (BDNF, CRFR1) and epigenetic changes were analyzed.
• Maternal behavior during early lactation was observed in stressed dams.

Main Results:

• Prenatal stress altered stress-coping abilities in both male and female offspring.
• Hippocampal gene expression of BDNF-IV and CRFR1 increased; sex differences emerged in glucocorticoid and BDNF receptor levels.
• Prenatal stress induced epigenetic modifications in the hippocampus, primarily in males, and enhanced maternal care.

Conclusions:

• Prenatal stress induces neurobehavioral variations in juveniles, influencing stress coping.
• These changes, alongside altered maternal behavior, may be adaptive or maladaptive depending on environmental context.
• Understanding early-life risk factors like prenatal stress is crucial for preventing later vulnerability to stress-related disorders.