Evidence of female-specific glial deficits in the hippocampus in a mouse model of prenatal stress

Aine T. Behan*, Daniel L. A. Van den Hove, Lynn Mueller, Marlon J. A. Jetten, Harry W. M. Steinbusch, David R. Cotter, Jos Prickaerts

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Prenatal stress (PS) has been associated with an increased incidence of numerous neuropsychiatric disorders, including depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, and autism. To determine the effects of PS on hippocampal-dependent behaviour hippocampal morphology, we examined behavioural responses and hippocampal cytoarchitecture of a maternal restraint stress paradigm of PS in C57BL6 mice. Female offspring only showed a reduction in hippocampal glial count in the pyramidal layer following PS. Additionally, only PS females showed increased depressive-like behaviour with cognitive deficits predominantly in female offspring when compared to males. This data provides evidence for functional female-specific glial deficits within the hippocampus as a consequence of PS.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)71-79
JournalEuropean Neuropsychopharmacology
Volume21
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2011

Keywords

  • Prenatal stress
  • Mice
  • Hippocampus
  • Sexual dimorphism
  • Psychiatric disorders

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