Alteration of neurotrophin and cytokine expression in lymphocytes as novel peripheral markers of spatial memory deficits induced by prenatal stress.
Much evidence has suggested that early life adversity can have a lasting effect on behavior. The aim of this study was to explore the impact of prenatal exposure to stress on cognition in adult life and how it impacts chronic stress situations. In addition, we investigated the participation of glucocorticoids, neurotrophins and cytokines in prenatal stress effects. For this purpose, pregnant mice were placed in a cylindrical restraint tube for 2h daily during the last week of pregnancy. Control pregnant females were left undisturbed during their entire pregnancy period. Object-in-place task results showed that adult female mice exposed to prenatal stress exhibited an impairment in spatial memory. However, in the alternation test this memory deficit was only found in prenatally stressed mice submitted to chronic stress. This alteration occurred in parallel with a decrease in BDNF, an increase in glucocorticoid receptors and an alteration of Th1/Th2 in the hippocampus. Interestingly, these changes were observed in peripheral lymph nodes as well. However, none of the mentioned changes were observed in adult male mice. These results indicate that lymphoid cells could be good candidates as peripheral markers of susceptibility to behavioral alterations associated with prenatal exposure to stress.
Instituto de Genética "Ewald A. Favret" (IGEAF), Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas (CICVYA), Nicolas Repetto y de los Reseros s/n, 1686 Hurlingham, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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Pascuan
Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas (BIOMED), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Universidad Católica Argentina (UCA), Av. Alicia Moreau de Justo 1600, Piso 3, 1107 Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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Di Rosso
Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Paraguay 2155, Piso 15, 1121 Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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Pivoz-Avedikian
Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas (BIOMED), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Universidad Católica Argentina (UCA), Av. Alicia Moreau de Justo 1600, Piso 3, 1107 Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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Wald
Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Paraguay 2155, Piso 15, 1121 Buenos Aires, Argentina; Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFYBO), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Paraguay 2155, Piso 16, 1121 Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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Zorrilla Zubilete
Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas (BIOMED), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Universidad Católica Argentina (UCA), Av. Alicia Moreau de Justo 1600, Piso 3, 1107 Buenos Aires, Argentina; Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Paraguay 2155, Piso 15, 1121 Buenos Aires, Argentina. Electronic address: amgenaro@yahoo.com.ar.
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Genaro
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005106:Exploratory Behavior; D005260:Female; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000502:physiology; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011987:Receptors, Steroid / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D021641:Recognition, Psychology / Q000502:physiology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications*
D016207:Cytokines; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D011987:Receptors, Steroid; C024357:corticosterone receptor; D003345:Corticosterone
Corticosterone; Cytokines; Neurotrophins; Prenatal stress; Spatial memory