How age, sex and genotype shape the stress response

Abstract

Exposure to chronic stress is a leading pre-disposing factor for several neuropsychiatric disorders as it often leads to maladaptive responses. The response to stressful events is heterogeneous, underpinning a wide spectrum of distinct changes amongst stress-exposed individuals'. Several factors can underlie a different perception to stressors and the setting of distinct coping strategies that will lead to individual differences on the susceptibility/resistance to stress. Beyond the factors related to the stressor itself, such as intensity, duration or predictability, there are factors intrinsic to the individuals that are relevant to shape the stress response, such as age, sex and genetics. In this review, we examine the contribution of such intrinsic factors to the modulation of the stress response based on experimental rodent models of response to stress and discuss to what extent that knowledge can be potentially translated to humans.

Deciphering the Contributions of CRH Receptors in the Brain and Pituitary to Stress-Induced Inhibition of the Reproductive Axis

“…As females demonstrate a more complex interaction of the HPA and HPG axes than males (Novais et al, 2017), one limitation of our study lies in the fact that only male mice were used. However, any potential sex- or sex steroid-dependent differences were beyond the scope of the present study.…”

Who’s afraid of the big bad wolf? Variation in the stress response among personalities and populations in a large wild herbivore

“…Although a stress hypo-responsive period has been described in many species (Romero 2004; Lupien et al 2009), it is as yet unclear whether it occurs widely in natural populations. Variation among-species in the occurrence of a neonatal hypo-responsiveness could be explained by variation in the timing of maturation of the HPA axis (Novais et al 2017). Indeed, a lack of responsiveness is likely adaptive in precocial species that give birth to relatively immature offspring, in that this protects the developing animal from the harmful side-effects of glucocorticoids (Sapolsky and Meaney 1986).…”

“…The magnitude and the plasticity of the stress response may vary depending on the individual’s state and/or phenotype (e.g. sex, age or body condition), or in relation to the individual’s sensitivity to stress or personality (Koolhaas et al 1999; Novais et al 2017). These among-individual differences are generally considered within the framework of coping styles, reflecting how an individual deals with a stressful or challenging situation along a reactive-proactive gradient (Koolhaas et al 1999).…”

Estrategias de afrontamiento al estrés y síntomas patológicos en universitarios ante un desastre socionatural de aluvión de barro

“…Del mismo modo, los resultados obtenidos son congruentes con lo evidenciado por Novais et al (2017), puesto que estos también señalan que el sexo femenino es más proclive al desarrollo de sintomatología ansiosodepresiva, dada una mayor activación neurofisiológica e inmunológica en este. No obstante, existe evidencia de que en situaciones de estrés crónico o intenso, esta diferencia no ocurre (Matud, 2004;Baker, Kentner, Konkle, SantaMaria & Bielajew, 2006 Nota.…”

“…Por ejemplo, la evidencia empírica constata diferencias en las EA al estrés de acuerdo con diversas variables constitutivas y circunstanciales del sujeto, como el ciclo vital, por ejemplo (Novais, Monteiro, Roque, Correia-Neves & Sousa, 2017). Específicamente, estudios meta-analíticos concluyen que las EA más utilizadas por la población joven (adolescentes y adultos jóvenes) se agrupan en los ámbitos: (1) sociocultural, (2) escolar, (3) familiar y amigos, y (4) sí mismo; y funcionalmente sobresalen las EA de (a) carácter positivo -como elaboración de un plan, optimismo, religión/ espiritualidad, búsqueda de apoyo social y humor-; y (b) de carácter negativo -como distanciamiento/desvinculación, rumiación mental, ira, perfeccionismo, abuso de substancias, pensamiento negativo y huida en reflexiones religiosas evitativas- (Montgomery et al, 2014).…”