title: Gestational cortisol and social play shape development of marmosets' HPA functioning and behavioral responses to stressors.
abstract: Both gestational cortisol exposure (GCE) and variability in postnatal environments can shape the later-life behavioral and endocrine outcomes of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. We examined the influence of GCE and social play on HPA functioning in developing marmosets. Maternal urinary cortisol samples were collected across pregnancy to determine GCE for 28 marmoset offspring (19 litters). We administered a social separation stressor to offspring at 6, 12, and 18 months of age, during which we collected urinary cortisol samples and behavioral observations. Increased GCE was associated with increased basal cortisol levels and cortisol reactivity, but the strength of this relationship decreased across age. Increased social play was associated with decreased basal cortisol levels and a marginally greater reduction in cortisol reactivity as offspring aged, regardless of offspring GCE. Thus, GCE is associated with HPA functioning, but socially enriching postnatal environments can alter the effects associated with increased fetal exposure to glucocorticoids.
authors: Department of Psychology, Callitrichid Research Center, University of Nebraska at Omaha, 6001 Dodge Street, Omaha, NE, 68182. amustoe@unomaha.edu.
authors: Aaryn C
authors: AC
authors: Mustoe
authors: Jack H
authors: JH
authors: Taylor
authors: Andrew K
authors: AK
authors: Birnie
authors: Michelle C
authors: MC
authors: Huffman
authors: Jeffrey A
authors: JA
authors: French
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D002144:Callithrix; D005260:Female; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000652:urine*; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010988:Play and Playthings; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012919:Social Behavior; D012934:Social Isolation; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: HPA axis; cortisol reactivity; development; fetal programming; marmoset; non-human primate; prenatal cortisol; social play