Chinese Journal Of Clinical Anatomy ›› 2012, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (6): 663-666.

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Effects of prenatal stress on the development of dopaminergic neurons in the hypothalamus of offspring

HAO Yan-li1, CHEN Ying-hua2, DONG Wei-ren2   

  1. 1.Department of Anatomy, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510180, China; 2.Department of Histology and Embryology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
  • Received:2012-07-28 Online:2012-11-25 Published:2012-12-11

Abstract:

Objective To investigate the effect of prenatal stress on the development of dopaminergic neurons in hypothalamus of rat offspring. Methods Restraint stress was performed three times each day for pregnant SD rats from embryonic day 12-19 in prenatal stress group. The day that the offspring was born was defined as the postnatal day 1. Dopamine expression in the hypothalamus of offspring was observed using the method of immunostaining on postnatal day 1, 7 and 30, respectively. Results Body weight of offspring rats in prenatal stress group significantly decreased, while the pixel intensity and level of dopamine in hypothalamus was up-regulated, compared with control group at the postnatal day 1(P<0.05). This change disappeared at the postnatal day 7 and 30. Conclusions Prenatal stress had an effect on the prenatal development of dopaminergic neurons in the hypothalamus, which may induce the long-term detrimental consequences for brain function.

Key words:  Prenatal stress, Offspring, Hypothalamus, Dopaminergic neurons

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