Effects of Maternal Stress during Different Periods of Pregnancy on the Early Neurobehavioral Response of Rats

Kvarik, Timea; Mammel, Barbara

doi:10.21767/2171-6625.100080

Cited by 6 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…In our study, stress during different periods of gestations has not shown any adverse effects in these parameters. Kvarik et al [ 32 ] in their study, while addressing maternal stress during different periods of pregnancy, did not observe any delay in eye or ear opening. Equivalent results were reported by earlier studies where these parameters were included [ 33 , 34 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 74%

“…Studies with regards to gestational stress-induced neurobehavioral deficits in offspring is an established fact. However, there are differences in results based on timing of neurobehavioral assessment [ 32 ] postnatally, gender of the animals [ 35 , 36 ], and selections of the assessment models in offspring [ 37 , 38 , 39 ]. Few studies have focused on finding out whether these neurobehavioral deficits are associated with timing of stress during pregnancy.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Neuroprotective Role of N-acetylcysteine against Learning Deficits and Altered Brain Neurotransmitters in Rat Pups Subjected to Prenatal Stress

2018

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Prenatal adversaries like stress are known to harm the progeny and oxidative stress, which is known to be one of the causative factors. N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), which is a potent antioxidant, has been shown to play a neuroprotective role in humans and experimental animals. This study examines the benefits of NAC on the prenatal stress-induced learning and memory deficits and alteration in brain neurotransmitter in rat pups. Pregnant dams were restrained (45 min; 3 times/day) during the early or late gestational period. Other groups received early or late gestational restrain stress combined with NAC treatment throughout the gestational period. At postnatal day (PND) 28, offspring were tested in a shuttle box for assessing learning and memory, which was followed by a brain neurotransmitter (dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin) estimation on PND 36. Late gestational stress resulted in learning deficits, the inability to retain the memory, and reduced brain dopamine content while not affecting norepinephrine and serotonin. NAC treatment in prenatally stressed rats reversed learning and memory deficits as well as brain dopamine content in offspring. These findings suggest that NAC protect the progeny from an undesirable cognitive sequel associated with prenatal stress.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 74%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neuroprotective Role of N-acetylcysteine against Learning Deficits and Altered Brain Neurotransmitters in Rat Pups Subjected to Prenatal Stress

2018

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“…Both pre-and postnatal stress models are widely used in neuro-endocrinological and psychiatric research [3,16,29]. These stress models may provide important correlation with human psychiatric disorders.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prenatal cigarette smoke exposure slightly alters neurobehavioral development in neonatal rats: Implications for developmental origins of health and disease (DoHAD)

et al. 2020

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Numerous studies indicate that smoking during pregnancy exerts harmful effects on fetal brain development. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of maternal smoking during pregnancy on the early physical and neurobehavioral development of newborn rats. Wistar rats were subjected to whole-body smoke exposure for 2 × 40 min daily from the day of mating until day of delivery. For this treatment, a manual closed-chamber smoking system and 4 research cigarettes per occasion were used. After delivery the offspring were tested daily for somatic growth, maturation of facial characteristics and neurobehavioral development until three weeks of age. Motor coordination tests were performed at 3 and 4 weeks of age. We found that prenatal cigarette smoke exposure did not alter weight gain or motor coordination. Critical physical reflexes indicative of neurobehavioral development (eyelid reflex, ear unfolding) appeared significantly later in pups prenatally exposed to smoke as compared to the control group. Prenatal smoke exposure also resulted in a delayed appearance of reflexes indicating neural maturity, including hind limb grasping and forelimb placing reflexes. In conclusion, clinically relevant prenatal exposure to cigarette smoke results in slightly altered neurobehavioral development in rat pups. These findings suggest that chronic exposure of pregnant mothers to cigarette smoke (including passive smoking) results in persisting alterations in the developing brain, which may have long-lasting consequences supporting the concept of developmental origins of health and disease (DoHAD).

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Early Neurobehavioral Development of Mice Lacking Endogenous PACAP

et al. 2017

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Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) is a multifunctional neuropeptide. In addition to its diverse physiological roles, PACAP has important functions in the embryonic development of various tissues, and it is also considered as a trophic factor during development and in the case of neuronal injuries. Data suggest that the development of the nervous system is severely affected by the lack of endogenous PACAP. Short-term neurofunctional outcome correlates with long-term functional deficits; however, the early neurobehavioral development of PACAP-deficient mice has not yet been evaluated. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to describe the postnatal development of physical signs and neurological reflexes in mice partially or completely lacking PACAP. We examined developmental hallmarks during the first 3 weeks of the postnatal period, during which period most neurological reflexes and motor coordination show most intensive development, and we describe the neurobehavioral development using a complex battery of tests. In the present study, we found that PACAP-deficient mice had slower weight gain throughout the observation period. Interestingly, mice partially lacking PACAP weighed significantly less than homozygous mice. There was no difference between male and female mice during the first 3 weeks. Some other signs were also more severely affected in the heterozygous mice than in the homozygous mice, such as air righting, grasp, and gait initiation reflexes. Interestingly, incisor teeth erupted earlier in mice lacking PACAP. Motor coordination, shown by the number of foot-faults on an elevated grid, was also less developed in PACAP-deficient mice. In summary, our results show that mice lacking endogenous PACAP have slower weight gain during the first weeks of development and slower neurobehavioral development regarding a few developmental hallmarks.

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Effects of Maternal Stress during Different Periods of Pregnancy on the Early Neurobehavioral Response of Rats

Cited by 6 publications

References 46 publications

Neuroprotective Role of N-acetylcysteine against Learning Deficits and Altered Brain Neurotransmitters in Rat Pups Subjected to Prenatal Stress

Neuroprotective Role of N-acetylcysteine against Learning Deficits and Altered Brain Neurotransmitters in Rat Pups Subjected to Prenatal Stress

Prenatal cigarette smoke exposure slightly alters neurobehavioral development in neonatal rats: Implications for developmental origins of health and disease (DoHAD)

Early Neurobehavioral Development of Mice Lacking Endogenous PACAP

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