Cited by 206Stress Responses and CortisolAnimal Behavior and ReproductionBirth, Development, and Health

Maternal programming of defensive responses through sustained effects on gene expression

Zhang, Tie-Yuan, Bagot, Rose, Parent, Carine, Nesbitt, Cathy, Bredy, Timothy W., Caldji, Christian, Fish, Eric, Anisman, Hymie +2 more·2006·Biological Psychology

Abstract

There are profound maternal effects on individual differences in defensive responses and reproductive strategies in species ranging literally from plants to insects to birds. Maternal effects commonly reflect the quality of the environment and are most likely mediated by the quality of the maternal provision (egg, propagule, etc.), which in turn determines growth rates and adult phenotype. In this paper we review data from the rat that suggest comparable forms of maternal effects on defensive responses stress, which are mediated by the effects of variations in maternal behavior on gene expression. Under conditions of environmental adversity maternal effects enhance the capacity for defensive responses in the offspring. In mammals, these effects appear to 'program' emotional, cognitive and endocrine systems towards increased sensitivity to adversity. In environments with an increased level of adversity, such effects can be considered adaptive, enhancing the probability of offspring survival to sexual maturity; the cost is that of an increased risk for multiple forms of pathology in later life.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2006.01.009

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Authors
Zhang, T.-Y., Bagot, R., Parent, C., Nesbitt, C., Bredy, T. W., Caldji, C., Fish, E., Anisman, H., Szyf, M., & Meaney, M. J.
Affiliations
  • Douglas Mental Health University Institute (CA)
  • Carleton University (CA)
Corresponding author
Meaney, Michael J.
Venue
Biological Psychology
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2006-07
Volume
73
Issue
1
Pages
72-89
ISSN
0301-0511 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2023287196
Cited by
206
References
28
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 21 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 18 · 2012: 29
FWCI
6.42
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Biological Psychology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics › Animal Behavior and Reproduction
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Birth, Development, and Health
Keywords
maternal effects, defensive behavior, stress, gene expression, maternal behavior, environmental adversity, developmental programming, rats, emotional systems, endocrine system, cognitive systems, individual differences, reproductive strategies
MeSH terms
Adaptation, Psychological, Animals, Arousal, Brain, Cognition, Emotions, Fear, Female, Gene Expression Regulation, Humans, Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System, Individuality, Maternal Behavior, Phenotype, Pituitary-Adrenal System, Pregnancy, Receptors, Glucocorticoid, Social Environment, Species Specificity, Neurolinguistic Programming, Mice, Rats

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