Effect of Prenatal Stress on the Hormonal Response to Acute and Chronic Stress and on Immune Parameters in the Offspring
Abstract
The effect of prenatal stress on the time course of the corticosterone response to acute and chronic stress and on hematological and immunological parameters in the offspring were analized in the present study. Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were stressed daily for 2 hours during the last week of gestation, and female and male off-spring were studied during adulthood. Corticosterone response to acute immobilization stress was not significantly different in either control or prenatally stressed rats. However, after 10 days of immobilization stress the corticosterone response completely disappeared in the control animals but not in the prenatally stressed group: high levels of corticosterone were found during the first hour of stress, although they were lower than those found in acutely stressed rats. Adrenal hypertrophy in response to prenatal stress was observed in females but not in male offspring, and chronic stress only increased adrenal weights in the male control group. Prenatal stress decreased the total peripheral leukocyte count, altered its diferential count decreasing lymphocytes and increasing neutrophil and eosinhophil counts, and significantly reduced the percentage of peripheral lymphocyte T CD8+ subset in male offspring. Chronic stress also reduced the percentage of the peripheral T CD8+ lymphocyte subset in the control group but not in the prenatally stressed group. These results suggest that the exposure to stress during pregnancy alters the adaptative response of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenocortical axis to chronic stress and presumably the immune competence in the offspring.
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In mice exposed to predator odors during pregnancy, there was elevated transcript abundance of CRHR1 in the amygdala and decreased BDNF transcript abundance in the hippocampus, correlated with site-specific DNA methylation changes.
“Specifically, there was an elevated transcript abundance of the CRHR1 in the amygdala and decreased the BDNF transcript abundance in the hippocampus, correlated with site-specific DNA methylation changes [39,112].”
From Comprehensive review of chronic stress pathways and the efficacy of behavioral stress reduction programs (BSRPs) in managing diseases. (2024) · cites this paper as [112]
Prenatal stress decreased the total peripheral leukocyte count in offspring.
“Additionally, prenatal stress decreased the total peripheral leukocyte count, altered differential counts by decreasing lymphocytes and increasing neutrophils and eosinophils, and significantly reduced the percentage of the peripheral lymphocyte T CD8+ subset in male offspring.”
From Comprehensive review of chronic stress pathways and the efficacy of behavioral stress reduction programs (BSRPs) in managing diseases. (2024) · cites this paper as [112]
The corticosterone response to immobilization stress disappeared in control animals after 10 days but persisted in prenatally stressed animals.
“For example, the corticosterone response to immobilization stress disappeared in control animals after 10 days but persisted in prenatally stressed animals.”
From Comprehensive review of chronic stress pathways and the efficacy of behavioral stress reduction programs (BSRPs) in managing diseases. (2024) · cites this paper as [112]
Prenatal stress significantly reduced the percentage of the peripheral lymphocyte T CD8+ subset in male offspring.
“Additionally, prenatal stress decreased the total peripheral leukocyte count, altered differential counts by decreasing lymphocytes and increasing neutrophils and eosinophils, and significantly reduced the percentage of the peripheral lymphocyte T CD8+ subset in male offspring.”
From Comprehensive review of chronic stress pathways and the efficacy of behavioral stress reduction programs (BSRPs) in managing diseases. (2024) · cites this paper as [112]
In a study involving pregnant Sprague Dawley rats, daily stress during the last week of gestation led to significant alterations in the offspring's HPA axis and immune competence.
“In a study involving pregnant Sprague Dawley rats, daily stress during the last week of gestation led to significant alterations in the offspring’s HPA axis and immune competence.”
From Comprehensive review of chronic stress pathways and the efficacy of behavioral stress reduction programs (BSRPs) in managing diseases. (2024) · cites this paper as [112]
In mice, exposure to predator odors during pregnancy increased corticosterone response and altered gene expression related to stress in the offspring.
“Also, in mice, exposure to predator odors during pregnancy increased corticosterone response and altered gene expression related to stress in the offspring.”
From Comprehensive review of chronic stress pathways and the efficacy of behavioral stress reduction programs (BSRPs) in managing diseases. (2024) · cites this paper as [112]
Prenatal stress altered differential counts by decreasing lymphocytes and increasing neutrophils and eosinophils.
“Additionally, prenatal stress decreased the total peripheral leukocyte count, altered differential counts by decreasing lymphocytes and increasing neutrophils and eosinophils, and significantly reduced the percentage of the peripheral lymphocyte T CD8+ subset in male offspring.”
From Comprehensive review of chronic stress pathways and the efficacy of behavioral stress reduction programs (BSRPs) in managing diseases. (2024) · cites this paper as [112]
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- Authors
- Llorente, E., Brito, M. L., Machado, P., & González, M. C.
- Affiliations
- Universidad de La Laguna (ES)
- Corresponding author
- González, M. C.
- Venue
- Journal of Physiology and Biochemistry
- Published
- 2002-09
- Volume
- 58
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 143-149
- ISSN
- 1138-7548 (ISSN-L)
- 1877-8755
- OpenAlex
- W1561890576
- Cited by
- 56
- References
- 19
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 0.41
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Journal of Physiology and Biochemistry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Birth, Development, and Health
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum
- Keywords
- prenatal stress, chronic stress, acute immobilization stress, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, adrenal hypertrophy, immunological parameters, peripheral leukocyte count, CD8+ T cells, sex differences, offspring, immunocompetence
- MeSH terms
- Acute Disease, Adrenal Glands, Animals, Chronic Disease, Corticosterone, Female, Gestational Age, Hormones, Immune System, Leukocyte Count, Male, Organ Size, Ovariectomy, Pregnancy, Pregnancy, Animal, Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects, Restraint, Physical, Stress, Psychological, Lymphocyte Subsets, Rats, Sprague-Dawley, Rats
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