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Prenatal Stress and Adaptive Behavior of Offspring: The Role of Placental Serotonin

N S Bondarenko1, S N Voronova1, E E Voronezhskaya1

  • 1Koltzov Institute of Developmental Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.

Doklady. Biochemistry and Biophysics
|May 10, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Mild prenatal stress in mice increased placental serotonin, altering offspring behavior. Stressed males displayed heightened reactivity and reduced territorial defense, suggesting serotonin mediates stress effects on adaptive behavior.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Behavioral Biology

Background:

  • Prenatal stress can impact offspring development and behavior.
  • Serotonin plays a crucial role in neurodevelopment and behavioral regulation.
  • The placenta's role in mediating maternal-fetal communication under stress is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of mild prenatal stress on placental serotonin levels.
  • To examine the impact of prenatal stress-induced changes in placental serotonin on the adaptive behavior of male offspring.
  • To determine if placental serotonin acts as a mediator of prenatal stress effects on behavior.

Main Methods:

  • BalbC mice were subjected to daily immobilization stress during a specific period of pregnancy (days 11-14).
  • Placental and fetal serotonin levels were measured on day 15 of gestation.
  • Offspring behavior was assessed at 35 days of age using the "resident-intruder" test.

Main Results:

  • Mild prenatal stress significantly increased serotonin levels in the placenta and fetus.
  • Prenatally stressed male offspring exhibited more reactive behavior in adulthood.
  • Stressed mice showed a reduced tendency to defend their territory compared to controls.

Conclusions:

  • Increased placental serotonin under prenatal stress conditions may serve as a mediator.
  • Prenatal stress can alter adaptive behaviors in male offspring.
  • Placental serotonin is implicated in the developmental programming of stress-related behaviors.

Keywords:
adaptive behaviorcoping stylesmiceplacentaprenatal developmentserotonin

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