Cited by 140Gastrointestinal motility and disordersInfant Health and DevelopmentStress Responses and Cortisol

Neonatal maternal separation causes colonic dysfunction in rat pups including impaired host resistance

Gareau, Mélanie G, Jury, Jennifer, Yang, Ping Chang, MacQueen, Glenda, Perdue, Mary H·2006·Pediatric Research

Abstract

Previous studies have shown that early life stress in the form of intermittent maternal separation (MS) predisposes adult rats to develop stress-induced intestinal mucosal dysfunction and visceral hypersensitivity. However, the mechanism involved in the functional abnormalities is unclear. Our aim was to study immature animals during or shortly after exposure to MS to determine whether there are early pathophysiological changes in the gut. Sprague-Dawley rat pups were individually separated from the dam for 3 h/d from 4 to 21 d of age; nonseparated (NS) control pups remained in the home cage with the dam. On d 19-20, d 24-25, and d 29-30, blood was collected for corticosterone measurement, and colonic tissues were removed for functional and morphologic assessment. Corticosteroid levels were elevated in MS pups compared with NS, indicating that MS was indeed stressful. The distal colon demonstrated significantly enhanced ion secretion and macromolecular permeability at d 19-20 and d 24-25, returning to normal by d 29-30. Electron microscopy and bacterial culture studies indicated bacteria adhering to and penetrating into the colonic epithelium of the MS pups at all time points, while such events were rare in NS pups. The pathophysiological changes were inhibited by injecting pups sc with a corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) receptor antagonist daily during MS. Our studies indicate that early psychological trauma predisposes neonatal rats to develop persistent mucosal barrier dysfunction, including impaired host defense to luminal bacteria, by a mechanism involving peripheral CRH receptors.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1203/01.pdr.0000190577.62426.45

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  • Neonatal stress can lead to short- and long-term alterations in the diversity and composition of the gut microbiota.

    “Several studies have demonstrated that neonatal stress can lead to short- and long-term alterations in the diversity and composition of the GM (345–347).”

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Authors
Gareau, M. G., Jury, J., Yang, P. C., MacQueen, G., & Perdue, M. H.
Affiliations
McMaster University (CA)
Corresponding author
Gareau, Mélanie G
Venue
Pediatric Research
Published
2006-01
Volume
59
Issue
1
Pages
83-88
ISSN
  • 0031-3998 (ISSN-L)
  • 1530-0447
OpenAlex
W1970620887
Cited by
139
References
38
Citations by year
2025: 3 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 14 · 2014: 13 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 9
FWCI
4.08
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Pediatric Research (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • AstraZeneca
  • Crohn's and Colitis Foundation
  • Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of Canada
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Gastroenterology › Gastrointestinal motility and disorders
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › Pharmacy › Infant Health and Development
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
Keywords
maternal separation, early life stress, neonatal rats, corticosterone, macromolecule permeability, corticotropin-releasing factor receptor, CRH receptor antagonist, visceral hypersensitivity, host resistance
MeSH terms
Animals, Animals, Newborn, Bacterial Adhesion, Body Weight, Colon, Colonic Diseases, Corticosterone, Female, Intestinal Mucosa, Maternal Deprivation, Rats, Sprague-Dawley, Receptors, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone, Rats

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