title: Effects of diethylstilbestrol exposure during gestation on both maternal and offspring behavior.
abstract: Endocrine disruption during gestation impairs the physical and behavioral development of offspring. However, it is unclear whether endocrine disruption also impairs maternal behavior and in turn further contributes to the developmental and behavioral dysfunction of offspring. We orally administered the synthetic non-steroidal estrogen diethylstilbestrol (DES) to pregnant female C57BL/6J mice from gestation day 11-17 and then investigated the maternal behavior of mothers. In addition, we examined the direct effects of in utero DES exposure and the indirect effects of aberrant maternal behavior on offspring using the cross-fostering method. In mothers, endocrine disruption during gestation decreased maternal behavior. In addition, endocrine disruption of foster mother influenced anxiety-related behavior and passive avoidance learning of pups regardless of their exposure in utero. The influence of DES exposure in utero, irrespective of exposure to the foster mother, was also shown in female offspring. These results demonstrate the risks of endocrine disruptors on both mother as well as offspring and suggest that developmental deficits may stem from both in utero toxicity and aberrant maternal care.
authors: Department of Psychology, Faculty of Law, Economics, and Humanities, Kagoshima University Kagoshima, Japan.
authors: Kazuya
authors: K
authors: Tomihara
authors: Department of Psychology, Faculty of Law, Economics, and Humanities, Kagoshima University Kagoshima, Japan.
authors: Takahiro
authors: T
authors: Zoshiki
authors: Department of Psychology, Faculty of Law, Economics, and Humanities, Kagoshima University Kagoshima, Japan.
authors: Sayaka Y
authors: SY
authors: Kukita
authors: Department of Psychology, Faculty of Law, Economics, and Humanities, Kagoshima University Kagoshima, Japan.
authors: Kanako
authors: K
authors: Nakamura
authors: Department of Psychology, Faculty of Law, Economics, and Humanities, Kagoshima University Kagoshima, Japan.
authors: Ayuko
authors: A
authors: Isogawa
authors: Department of Psychology, Faculty of Law, Economics, and Humanities, Kagoshima University Kagoshima, Japan.
authors: Sawako
authors: S
authors: Ishibashi
authors: Department of Psychology, Faculty of Law, Economics, and Humanities, Kagoshima University Kagoshima, Japan.
authors: Ayumi
authors: A
authors: Tanaka
authors: Department of Psychology, Faculty of Law, Economics, and Humanities, Kagoshima University Kagoshima, Japan.
authors: Ayaka S
authors: AS
authors: Kuraoka
authors: Department of Psychology, Faculty of Law, Economics, and Humanities, Kagoshima University Kagoshima, Japan.
authors: Saki
authors: S
authors: Matsumoto
keywords: cross-fostering method; developmental deficits; endocrine disruptor; estrogenic agents; maternal behavior