Maternal pinealectomy increases depressive-like responses in Siberian hamster offspring.
This study investigated the effect of maternal pinealectomy and postnatal pinealectomy on affective responses. Siberian hamsters were born to either pinealectomized or sham-operated dams and then underwent pinealectomy or a sham operation. Maternal pinealectomy increased depressive-like responses of offspring in the forced swim test. Maternal pinealectomy increased rearing behaviour and postnatal pinealectomy increased locomotor behaviour in the open field test. These results suggest that prenatal melatonin organizes adult affective responses.
Workman
Joanna L
JL
Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA. workman.1113@osu.edu
Weil
Zachary M
ZM
Tuthill
Christiana R
CR
Nelson
Randy J
RJ
D000818:Animals; D001007:Anxiety / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology; D006224:Cricetinae; D003863:Depression / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D008425:Maternal Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D017440:Photoperiod; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects