title: Decreased Bdnf expression and reduced social behavior in periadolescent rats following prenatal stress.
abstract: Prenatal stress (PNS) is a risk factor for the development of neuropsychiatric disorders. This study was aimed at assessing, in a rodent model, changes in gene expression profiles and behavioral output as a result of PNS, during periadolescence, a critical developmental period for the onset of psychopathology. Social behavior was studied in a standardized social interaction paradigm and the expression of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (Bdnf), a marker of neuronal plasticity, and of inhibitory and excitatory mechanisms (Na(+)-K(+)-2Cl(-) and K(+)-Cl(-) cotransporters ratio, NKCC1/KCC2) was analyzed. Results indicate that PNS reduced Bdnf transcripts while increasing the NKCC1/KCC2 ratio, primarily in the hippocampus. In the prefrontal cortex, changes in Bdnf were found to be gender-dependent. These effects were accompanied by reduced levels of affiliative and investigative social behaviors. Interestingly, interaction with non-stressed subjects was able to improve sociality in PNS rats suggesting that the social environment could be exploited for therapeutic intervention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Neurosciences, Section of Behavioral Neuroscience, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, Rome, 00161, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Berry
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Panetta
authors.forename: Alessia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Luoni
authors.forename: Veronica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bellisario
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Capoccia
authors.forename: Marco Andrea
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Riva
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cirulli
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012919:Social Behavior; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000235:genetics*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
keywords: Bdnf; gene expression; hippocampus; periadolescence; prefrontal cortex; prenatal stress; rats; social behavior