Maternal experience inhibits the production of immature neurons in the hippocampus during the postpartum period through elevations in adrenal steroids.

摘要: Motherhood is accompanied by alterations in numerous nonreproductive behaviors, including learning and memory, as well anxiety stress regulation. These functions have been linked to adult neurogenesis the hippocampus, but effect of maternal experience on this brain region has not completely explored. To determine whether production new hippocampal granule cells altered during postpartum period, we examined number proliferating their progeny dentate gyrus primiparous female rats at various time points period while they were caring for offspring, after weaning. Additionally, investigated cell proliferation affected presence offspring nursing-induced increases glucocorticoids. Analysis BrdU-labeled revealed that was suppressed lactating females until This tempo- rary; a difference detectable 1 week BrdU-labeling, when majority expressed marker immature mature gran- ule neurons (TuJ1) 2 weeks, most (NeuN). The decrease dependent elevated basal glucocorticoid levels associated with lactation; removal nursing pups reduced corticosterone prevented cells. More- over, preventing increased means adre- nalectomy low-dose replacement eliminated reduction proliferation. findings indicate interactions inhibit through changes adrenal ste- roids, further suggest potential mechanism hip- pocampal function period. V C 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.