Corticosterone effects on rat brain template active region chromatin

The effect of prenatal exposure to corticosterone on brain chromatin was examined. Pregnant Fischer inbred rats were administered corticosterone or saline on Days 17 and 18 of gestation and their offspring examined at 0 (day of birth), 2, 3, 4 or 6 days of age. In utero exposure to corticosterone was associated with a 24 hr delay of a developmental peak in the percentage of brain template active region chromatin. Brain and body weights of the steroid and saline-treated animals were similar, but corticosterone led to a temporary decrease in body and brain weight at 2 days of age which was reversed at 6 days of age. These results of these studies suggest an impact of corticosterone on brain gene expression.