Prenatal stress produces learning deficits associated with an inhibition of neurogenesis in the hippocampus.
Early experiences such as prenatal stress significantly influence the development of the brain and the organization of behavior. In particular, prenatal stress impairs memory processes but the mechanism for this effect is not known. Hippocampal granule neurons are generated throughout life and are involved in hippocampal-dependent learning. Here, we report that prenatal stress in rats induced lifespan reduction of neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus and produced impairment in hippocampal-related spatial tasks. Prenatal stress blocked the increase of learning-induced neurogenesis. These data strengthen pathophysiological hypotheses that propose an early neurodevelopmental origin for psychopathological vulnerabilities in aging.
Lemaire
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Laboratoire de Psychobiologie des Comportement Adaptatifs, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale Unit 259, Université de Bordeaux II, Domaine de Carreire, Rue Camille Saint Saëns, 33077 Bordeaux Cedex, France.
Koehl
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Le Moal
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Abrous
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DN
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009474:Neurons / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013315:Stress, Psychological