Early postnatal changes in sexual dimorphism of catecholamine and indoleamine content in the brain of prenatally stressed rats.
Sexual dimorphism in catecholamine and indoleamine content in the brain preoptic area and mediobasal hypothalamus was studied in 10-day-old rat pups whose mothers had been exposed to the daily 1-h immobilization stress during the last week of pregnancy. Concentration of noradrenaline in the preoptic area and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid in the mediobasal hypothalamus of the prenatally stressed male offspring as well as dopamine content in the mediobasal hypothalamus and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid content in the preoptic area of the females were increased by 59%, 45%, 34%, 76%, respectively. Dopamine content in the preoptic area of the female pups was decreased. In addition, an increase of 5-hydroxytryptamine metabolism in the female preoptic area has been revealed. As a result of prenatal stress, sex-related differences in noradrenaline and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid concentrations in the preoptic area and those in dopamine concentration in the mediobasal hypothalamus disappeared. The suggestion is made that the early changes in sexual dimorphism of the brain catecholamines and 5-hydroxytryptamine metabolism in prenatally stressed rats may be responsible for the development of the long-term disorders of sexual differentiation of the neuroendocrine functions.
Reznikov
A G
AG
Department of Endocrinology of Reproduction and Adaptation, Institute of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Kiev, Ukraine.
Nosenko
N D
ND
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000378:metabolism
D002395:Catecholamines; D012701:Serotonin; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid