Effects of Early Stress Exposure on Anxiety-like Behavior and <i>MORC1</i> Expression in Rats
Exposure to stress during early and late childhood can lead to long-lasting neurobiological and behavioral impairments. Although sensitive periods for stress exposure are well established, less is known about the trajectory of induced alterations throughout development. In this study, we investigate...
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MDPI AG
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Biomolecules |
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| author | Annakarina Mundorf Nadja Freund |
| author_facet | Annakarina Mundorf Nadja Freund |
| author_sort | Annakarina Mundorf |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Exposure to stress during early and late childhood can lead to long-lasting neurobiological and behavioral impairments. Although sensitive periods for stress exposure are well established, less is known about the trajectory of induced alterations throughout development. In this study, we investigated the impact of maternal separation (MS), social isolation, and their combination on anxiety-like behavior and gene expression across developmental stages. Sprague Dawley rats were exposed to one or both stressors and later assessed for anxiety-like behavior in juvenility, adolescence, and adulthood. mRNA levels of <i>Morc1</i>, a gene linked to early-life stress and depression, were measured in the medial prefrontal cortex to assess developmental changes. The results showed that MS had age- and sex-dependent effects on anxiety-like behavior. Juveniles exhibited less anxiety after MS, while adolescents showed more pronounced behavioral changes following social isolation. No behavioral changes were observed in adults. Males exhibited greater anxiety-like behavior than females in adolescence and adulthood, but not in juvenility. Female adults exposed to both MS and social isolation had significantly lower <i>Morc1</i> expression compared to controls. These findings highlight the dynamic effects of early stress across the lifespan, underscoring the critical role of adolescence and differential stress susceptibility by age and sex. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3946268371d74704b840c19e45c49491 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2218-273X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
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| series | Biomolecules |
| spelling | doaj-art-3946268371d74704b840c19e45c494912025-08-20T02:43:29ZengMDPI AGBiomolecules2218-273X2024-12-011412158710.3390/biom14121587Effects of Early Stress Exposure on Anxiety-like Behavior and <i>MORC1</i> Expression in RatsAnnakarina Mundorf0Nadja Freund1Division of Experimental and Molecular Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Preventive Medicine, LWL University Hospital, Ruhr University Bochum, 44801 Bochum, GermanyDivision of Experimental and Molecular Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Preventive Medicine, LWL University Hospital, Ruhr University Bochum, 44801 Bochum, GermanyExposure to stress during early and late childhood can lead to long-lasting neurobiological and behavioral impairments. Although sensitive periods for stress exposure are well established, less is known about the trajectory of induced alterations throughout development. In this study, we investigated the impact of maternal separation (MS), social isolation, and their combination on anxiety-like behavior and gene expression across developmental stages. Sprague Dawley rats were exposed to one or both stressors and later assessed for anxiety-like behavior in juvenility, adolescence, and adulthood. mRNA levels of <i>Morc1</i>, a gene linked to early-life stress and depression, were measured in the medial prefrontal cortex to assess developmental changes. The results showed that MS had age- and sex-dependent effects on anxiety-like behavior. Juveniles exhibited less anxiety after MS, while adolescents showed more pronounced behavioral changes following social isolation. No behavioral changes were observed in adults. Males exhibited greater anxiety-like behavior than females in adolescence and adulthood, but not in juvenility. Female adults exposed to both MS and social isolation had significantly lower <i>Morc1</i> expression compared to controls. These findings highlight the dynamic effects of early stress across the lifespan, underscoring the critical role of adolescence and differential stress susceptibility by age and sex.https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/14/12/1587maternal separationsocial isolationdepressiondevelopmentrt-PCRprefrontal cortex |
| spellingShingle | Annakarina Mundorf Nadja Freund Effects of Early Stress Exposure on Anxiety-like Behavior and <i>MORC1</i> Expression in Rats Biomolecules maternal separation social isolation depression development rt-PCR prefrontal cortex |
| title | Effects of Early Stress Exposure on Anxiety-like Behavior and <i>MORC1</i> Expression in Rats |
| title_full | Effects of Early Stress Exposure on Anxiety-like Behavior and <i>MORC1</i> Expression in Rats |
| title_fullStr | Effects of Early Stress Exposure on Anxiety-like Behavior and <i>MORC1</i> Expression in Rats |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of Early Stress Exposure on Anxiety-like Behavior and <i>MORC1</i> Expression in Rats |
| title_short | Effects of Early Stress Exposure on Anxiety-like Behavior and <i>MORC1</i> Expression in Rats |
| title_sort | effects of early stress exposure on anxiety like behavior and i morc1 i expression in rats |
| topic | maternal separation social isolation depression development rt-PCR prefrontal cortex |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/14/12/1587 |
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