Prolactin and glucocorticoid receptors in the prefrontal cortex are associated with anxiety‐like behavior in prenatally stressed adolescent offspring rats

Abstract

Prenatal stress (PS) causes anxiety in mothers and their offspring and chewing is a commonly observed behavior during maternal stress. Prolactin (PRL) is an anti‐anxiety factor that suppresses the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis. Here, we studied the roles of PRL, corticosterone (CORT), and their receptors in PS‐induced anxiety‐like behavior in dams and their offspring. We further investigated whether chewing during maternal stress could prevent PS‐induced harmful consequences. Pregnant rats were randomly divided into PS, PS + chewing, and control groups. Anxiety‐like behaviors of dams and their adolescent offspring were assessed using the open field test and elevated plus maze. Serum levels of PRL and CORT were measured by ELISA. Expression of mRNA and protein of PRLR and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) were evaluated by qRT‐PCR and western blotting, respectively. Compared to the control rats, dams and their female offspring, but not male offspring, in the PS group showed increased anxiety‐like behaviors. The PS‐affected rats had a lower serum PRL level and increased PRLR expression in the PFC. In contrast, these rats had a higher serum CORT level and decreased GR expression in the PFC. Chewing ameliorated anxiety‐like behaviors and counteracted stress‐induced changes in serum PRL and CORT, as well as the expression of their receptors in the PFC. Conclusion: PS‐induced anxiety‐like behavior is associated with changes in the serum levels of PRL and CORT and expression of their receptors in the PFC. Moreover, chewing blunts the hormonal and receptor changes and may serve as an effective stress‐coping method for preventing PS‐induced anxiety‐like behavior.

The hyperexcitability of laterodorsal tegmentum cholinergic neurons accompanies adverse behavioral and cognitive outcomes of prenatal stress

“…Accumulating clinical and animal studies have demonstrated that PS raises the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in later life periods in the offspring. For instance, offspring born to mothers who experienced stress during pregnancy have been shown to demonstrate higher anxiety levels, depression-like behaviors, and cognitive disorders in the adolescence and adulthood [1][2][3][4] . In addition, it has been shown that stressful events during pregnancy could affect the vulnerability of the offspring to addiction and drug abuse in later life 5,6 .…”

Hypothalamus and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Review

“…Therefore, the release of prolactin as a response to stress is of considerable clinical importance. Several stress models have been used to characterize such effects on prolactin secretion, including ether stress [262][263][264], restraint stress [265][266][267], thermal stress [268], hemorrhage [269], social conflict [270], migraine [271], and even academic stress in humans [272,273].…”