Hypothalamo-Pituitary-Adrenocortical Axis Function and Hedonic Behavior in Adult Male and Female Rats Prenatally Stressed by Maternal Food Restriction

Abstract

Neuroendocrine activation during stress is affected by many factors contributing to the variability of the stress response. The present study was aimed at evaluating long-term changes in hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis function and in hedonic behavior in adult offspring prenatally stressed by maternal food restriction, with attention on possible gender differences. Adult offspring were blood sampled via a tail artery cannula. Prenatally stressed females had significantly higher adrenal weights compared to males. Plasma ACTH levels, which rose in response to acute stress induced by handling, were significantly higher in females compared to those in males. A similar pattern was found in plasma corticosterone. The rise in ACTH levels was more pronounced in prenatally stressed rats though the rise in corticosterone failed to be modified. Corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) and proopiomelanocortin mRNA levels in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus and anterior pituitary, respectively, were found to be unchanged. The present experiments failed to reveal a decrease in hedonic behavior in prenatally stressed rats. In contrast, in male offspring a tendency to a higher sucrose preference was observed. These data together with observed changes in hormone and CRH mRNA levels indicate that the gestational stress used did not result in a depression-like state in adult offspring.

Perinatal Food Deprivation Induces Marked Alterations of the Hypothalamo-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis in 8-Month-Old Male Rats both under Basal Conditions and after a Dehydration Period

“…Similar HPA alterations are also frequently encountered during the aging process [51, 52]and in chronic depressive disorders [53]suggesting that perinatal undernutrition may sensitize individuals to these phenomena. A recent study [54]indicates that prenatal maternal food restriction did not result in a depression-like state in adult rat offspring but disturbed HPA activity. We did not know whether a perinatal undernutrition could have the same effect in our animals as the alterations of the HPA axis observed in the present study are more marked than those reported by Jezova et al [54].…”

“…A recent study [54]indicates that prenatal maternal food restriction did not result in a depression-like state in adult rat offspring but disturbed HPA activity. We did not know whether a perinatal undernutrition could have the same effect in our animals as the alterations of the HPA axis observed in the present study are more marked than those reported by Jezova et al [54]. Interestingly, an increasing amount of evidence shows that AVP could play a major role in the deregulation of the HPA axis observed in depressive disorders [55]or during the aging process [56, 57].…”

Stress, Gender and Motherhood (I)

“…So far, several stressors have been applied to induce stress before or after birth including immobilization, light, noise, or overcrowding in pregnancy or repeated maternal deprivation post partum. In the papers by Jezová et al (2002) and by Mathew et al (2002), food restriction and varying foraging demands have been used as relevant stressors either during pregnancy or in the time after birth. Working with rats, Jezová et al (2002) have characterized long-term changes in HPA axis functions, including hypothalamic CRH mRNA expression, and hedonic behavior in the offspring of mothers exposed to undernutrition during pregnancy.…”

“…In the papers by Jezová et al (2002) and by Mathew et al (2002), food restriction and varying foraging demands have been used as relevant stressors either during pregnancy or in the time after birth. Working with rats, Jezová et al (2002) have characterized long-term changes in HPA axis functions, including hypothalamic CRH mRNA expression, and hedonic behavior in the offspring of mothers exposed to undernutrition during pregnancy. They revealed that food restriction throughout gestation induces partial changes in HPA axis responsiveness in both adult male and female offspring.…”

“…From the papers by Weinstock (2002), Jezová et al (2002) and Mathew et al (2002), we learn about the importance of the environmental conditions, mainly provided by the mother either during fetal or postnatal development, on the development of appropriate emotional and neuroendocrine responses to intimidating situations in adulthood, although varying pictures emerge depending on the experimental stress protocols used. But very little attention has been focused on the maternal organism so far.…”