Long-term consequences of neonatal rearing on central corticotropin-releasing factor systems in adult male rat offspring.

TitleLong-term consequences of neonatal rearing on central corticotropin-releasing factor systems in adult male rat offspring.
Publication TypeJournal Article
AuthorsPlotsky, Paul M., K V. Thrivikraman, Charles B. Nemeroff, Christian Caldji, Shakti Sharma, and Michael J. Meaney
PubMed ID15920504
Grant ListMH 42088 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
MH 50113 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
MH 58922 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States

In a series of studies on the long-term consequences of neonatal rearing, we compared hypothalamic and extrahypothalamic central corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) systems in male rats reared under conditions of animal facility rearing, nonhandling (HMS0), handling with brief maternal separation for 15 min (HMS15), or handling with moderate maternal separation for 180 min (HMS180) daily from postnatal days 2-14. CRF-like immunoreactivity (CRFir) was elevated in lumbar cerebrospinal fluid of adult HMS180 and HMS0 rats relative to the other groups. In the paraventricular nucleus, central nucleus of the amygdala, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, and locus coeruleus, CRFir and CRF mRNA levels were significantly elevated in HMS0 and HMS180 rats. Neonatal maternal separation was associated with regionally specific alterations in CRF receptor type 1 (CRF1) mRNA density in HMS180 rats. No rearing-associated differences in CRF2alpha binding were apparent in either the lateral septum or the ventromedial hypothalamus. These findings indicate that early rearing conditions can permanently alter the developmental set-point of central CRF systems, and potentially influence the expression of behavioral and endocrine responses to stress throughout life, thereby providing a possible neurobiological substrate for the relationship between early life events and increased vulnerability for hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and coping skill alterations and the frequency of mood disorders in patients with a history of such experiences.

Title Long-term consequences of neonatal rearing on central corticotropin-releasing factor systems in adult male rat offspring.
Publication Title Neuropsychopharmacology
Publication Type Journal Article
Published Year 2005
Authors P.M. Plotsky; K.V. Thrivikraman; C.B. Nemeroff; C. Caldji; S. Sharma; M.J. Meaney
ISSN Number 0893-133X
PubMed ID 15920504
Grant List
MH 42088 MH NIMH NIH HHS United States
MH 50113 MH NIMH NIH HHS United States
MH 58922 MH NIMH NIH HHS United States

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