Home General Physiology and Biophysics 2023 General Physiology and Biophysics Vol.42, No.6, p. 495–506, 2023

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Founded: 1982
ISSN 1338-4325 (online)
ISSN 0231-5882 (print)
Published in English,
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General Physiology and Biophysics Vol.42, No.6, p. 495–506, 2023

Title: Early-life maternal deprivation in rats increases sensitivity to the subsequent stressors: a pilot study
Author: Maria Komelkova, Boris Yushkov, Stanislav Fedorov, Roman Ibragimov, Pavel Platkovskiy, Desheng Hu, Shanshan Luo, Alexey Sarapultsev
Abstract: Early life experiences, particularly maternal deprivation (MD), have long-lasting implications on emotional and cognitive development. Using Wistar rats as a model, this study explores the impact of MD followed by predator stress exposure (PSS) to simulate aspects of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A cohort of 41 male rat pups underwent MD from postnatal days 2 to 14, followed by PSS at day 90. Female rat pups were not included in the experiment. Behavior was subsequently assessed using the Elevated Plus Maze test 14 days post-PSS. While MD led to subtle changes such as decreased activity and increased anxiety-like behavior, PSS induced pronounced anxiogenic effects. Notably, PSS after MD resulted in decreased basal corticosterone levels, mirroring conditions observed in PTSD. The findings suggest that although MD itself does not induce significant behavioral changes, it predisposes individuals to heightened sensitivity to subsequent stressors. This study underscores the utility of a two-stage PSS model for more accurately reflecting the complexities inherent in stress-related disorders, including PTSD.
Keywords: Cortisol — Early life stress — Maternal deprivation — Post-traumatic stress disorder — PTSD rats — Sensitivity
Published online: 14-Nov-2023
Year: 2023, Volume: 42, Issue: 6 Page From: 495, Page To: 506
doi:10.4149/gpb_2023022


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