The Effects of Stress during Pregnancy on Anxiety-like Behaviors, Spatial memory, Plasma and Hippocampal Leptin Levels, and Leptin Receptor Gene Expression in the Hippocampus of Small Mice
Subject Areas : Journal of Animal BiologyMasoomeh Mohammadi 1 , Ali Haeri Rohani 2 , هدایت صحرایی 3 , Parichehreh Yaghmaei 4
1 - Department of Biology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
2 - Department of Biology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
3 - Neuroscience Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
4 - Department of Biology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
Keywords: Pregnancy stress, Anxiety, Spatial memory, Leptin receptor,
Abstract :
One of the possible reasons for the decrease in cognitive abilities and spatial memory in offspring is the decrease in leptin receptor gene expression in the hippocampus. In the present study, pregnant NMRI rats were divieded into four groups of eight: 1- male control group: male offspring of mothers who did not receive electric shock during pregnancy 2- Female control group: female offspring of mothers who did not receive electric shock during pregnancy 3- Male stress group: female offspring of mothers who received electric shock during pregnancy, and 4- female stress group: female offspring of mothers who received electric shock during pregnancy. To evaluate the effect of stress on intrinsic anxiety, the open field device was used, and for induced anxiety, an elevated plus maze was used. Leptin plasma concentration and leptin receptor gene expression in the hippocampus were measured. The results showed that plantar electric shock stress in the first half of pregnancy can reduce leptin plasma levels in offspring. The incidence of anxiety-like behaviors in male and female offspring of mothers who received shocks increased significantly (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01). Also, the studies showed that male and female offspring of stressed mothers traveled more time and distance to reach the target chamber in the Barnes Maze (memory test). Prenatal stress will reduce the plasma concentration of leptin and hippocampal leptin in male and female offspring. Leptin receptor gene expression in the hippocampus of male and female offspring of stressed mothers was significantly lower than that of control group offspring. Exposure of pregnant mothers to electric shock led to a decrease in leptin hormone levels in offspring, which was associated with anxiety-like behaviors and impaired memory and spatial learning. Considering the existence of various types of environmental stress in today's life, leptin measurement and evaluation may play a decisive role in predicting the treatment of patients with anxiety and cognitive disorders.
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