Adolescence: A central event in shaping stress reactivity

Abstract

ABSTRACT:The magnitude and duration of the hormonal stress response change dramatically throughout an organism's lifespan. Although much is known about the factors that modulate stress reactivity during adulthood and how neonatal development and aging influence stress responsiveness, we know relatively little about how stress reactivity changes during the juvenile to adult transition. Recent studies in adolescent boys and girls have suggested that stress is an important factor contributing to an individual's vulnerability to various neuropsychological dysfunctions, including anxiety, depression, and drug abuse. Thus, understanding how exposure to stressors during this crucial period of development lead to negative consequences is of paramount importance. A growing body of literature indicates that pubertal organisms react differentially, both physiologically and behaviorally, to a stressor compared to adults. The purpose of this review, therefore, is to discuss the recent findings regarding the pubertal maturation of stress reactivity, while also highlighting future research directions that will aid in our understanding of stress and adolescent mental health and development. ß 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 52: 244-253, 2010.

CRHR1 links peripuberty stress with deficits in social and stress-coping behaviors

“…The peripubertal period is a biological transitional phase involving adaptations in hormonal systems and neural circuits, including those related to stress and the development of emotionality (Spear, 2009;Romeo, 2010). In our lab, exposure of rats to stressful experiences (e.g., synthetic fox odor and exposure to an elevated platform) on scattered days during the peripuberty period (P28eP30, P34, P36, P40 and P42) was found to induce long-lasting effects on anxiety and stress-coping behaviors, including deficits in social behaviors (Toledo-Rodriguez and Sandi, 2011;Cordero et al, 2012;Marquez et al, 2013), as well as changes in metabolic responses in limbic brain regions including the hippocampus and the amygdala (Toledo-Rodriguez et al, 2012;Marquez et al, 2013).…”

Adolescent social stress does not necessarily lead to a compromised adaptive capacity during adulthood: A study on the consequences of social stress in rats

“…Several studies suggest that juveniles and adolescents respond differently to stress when compared with adults. Therefore, they may also be affected differently in the long term (Avital and Richter-Levin, 2005;Romeo, 2010;Bingham et al, 2011). Indeed, in response to acute restraint stress, the plasma concentrations of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and corticosterone (CORT) remain elevated significantly longer in 28-day-old juvenile rats than in adults (Romeo, 2010).…”

“…Therefore, they may also be affected differently in the long term (Avital and Richter-Levin, 2005;Romeo, 2010;Bingham et al, 2011). Indeed, in response to acute restraint stress, the plasma concentrations of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and corticosterone (CORT) remain elevated significantly longer in 28-day-old juvenile rats than in adults (Romeo, 2010). After repeated exposure to restraint stress the initial CORT response to restraint also remains higher in adolescents (Romeo, 2010;Bingham et al, 2011), but the recovery is faster than in adults (Romeo, 2010).…”

“…Indeed, in response to acute restraint stress, the plasma concentrations of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and corticosterone (CORT) remain elevated significantly longer in 28-day-old juvenile rats than in adults (Romeo, 2010). After repeated exposure to restraint stress the initial CORT response to restraint also remains higher in adolescents (Romeo, 2010;Bingham et al, 2011), but the recovery is faster than in adults (Romeo, 2010). When exposed to social defeat, singlehoused adolescent rats (postnatal day [PND] 36) spent more time burying in the defensive burying test compared with undefeated controls, indicating a more proactive coping style, whereas the opposite effect was observed in adult defeated rats.…”

“…Compared to adults, juveniles and adolescents are suggested to be more susceptible to input from their environment as an essential part of learning about and adapting to their environment (Belsky et al, 2009;McCormick, 2010;Romeo, 2010;Jankord et al, 2011;Schmidt, 2011). Consequently, they may be particularly vulnerable to the detrimental effects of stress and adverse environment.…”