Role of maternal corticosterone in the development and maturation of the aminoacidergic systems of the rat brain.
Previous studies have suggested an important role for maternal glucocorticoids in the development of the aminoacidergic systems of the rat brain. This study examines the effect of metyrapone (2-methyl-1,2-di-3-pyridyl-1-propanone), i.p.-administered to gestating mothers, on the maturation of the aminoacidergic systems of their offsprings' brains. gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamate concentrations were determined in male and female offspring at postnatal days (PN) 23 and 90 in four brain areas: the hippocampus, hypothalamus, striatum and cortex. The activity of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), the most important enzyme in the synthesis of GABA, was also analysed. The results show that a reduction in maternal corticosterone during gestation leads to a reduced GABAergic content in all brain areas studied at PN23; permanent organizational changes occurred in the cortex, striatum and hypothalamus. Maternal metyrapone treatment also affected the development of the glutamatergic systems, females being more affected than males at both PN23 and PN90 particularly in the hypothalamus and cortex. The metyrapone treatment produced no changes in GAD activity at PN23, but induced an important increase in this activity at PN90.
Leret
Maria Luisa
ML
Department of Animal Physiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Jose Antonio Novais 2, 28040 Madrid, Spain. mlleret@bio.ucm.es
Lecumberri
Mar
M
Garcia-Montojo
Marta
M
González
José Carlos
JC
D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000254:growth & development*; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology*; D004563:Electrochemistry; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase / Q000378:metabolism; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008797:Metyrapone / Q000494:pharmacology; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism
D000596:Amino Acids; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase; D003345:Corticosterone; D008797:Metyrapone