Effects of prenatal stress and neonatal handling on anxiety, spatial learning and serotonergic system of male offspring mice. (December 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Akatsu, Shigemi; Ishikawa, Chihiro; Takemura, Kaori; Ohtani, Akiko; Shiga, Takashi
• Is Part Of: Neuroscience research. Volume 101(2015:Dec.)
• Page Start: 15
• Page End: 23
• Publication Date: 2015-12
• Subjects: Prenatal stress -- Neonatal handling -- Anxiety -- Spatial learning -- Serotonin receptor; Neurosciences -- Research -- Periodicals; Neurosciences -- Research -- Japan -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Neurosciences -- Periodicals; Neurosciences -- Recherche -- Périodiques; Neurosciences -- Recherche -- Japon -- Périodiques; Neurosciences -- Research; Japan; Periodicals; 612.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2015.07.002
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0168-0102

Abstract

Highlights: Neonatal handling increased maternal care. Prenatal stress enhanced anxiety level of offspring. Neonatal handling improved spatial learning of offspring. Environmental factors altered the expression of 5-HT receptors. Interaction between prenatal stress and neonatal handling was observed. Abstract: Environmental factors during perinatal period have various effects on behavior. The present study examined the effects of prenatal stress and neonatal handling on anxiety and spatial learning of offspring. Prenatal stress increased anxiety-related behavior of adult offspring, whereas neonatal handling had no effect. In contrast, spatial learning was not affected by prenatal stress, but improved by neonatal handling in both prenatally stressed and non-stressed mice. Next, to elucidate possible brain mechanisms mediating effects of environmental factors on behavior, we focused on serotonin (5-HT) system in the frontal cortex and hippocampus which is involved in anxiety and learning. We examined effects of environmental factors on the mRNA expression of 5-HT1A, 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C receptors in the frontal cortex and hippocampus during postnatal period and adulthood. Both prenatal stress and neonatal handling altered the mRNA expression of 5-HT receptors. These effects were dependent on environmental factors, brain regions and developmental stages. In summary, the present study revealed that prenatal stress and neonatal handling had differential effects on anxiety and spatial learning of offspring, and concomitantly the expression of 5-HT receptors. It was also shown that the effects of prenatal stress on 5-HT system were recovered partially by neonatal handling.