Postnatal stress exposure impairs visual function in adult mice

DORFMAN, DAMIÁN; ROSENSTEIN, RUTH E.; CALANNI, JUAN S.; DIEGUEZ, HERNÁN H.; GONZALEZ FLEITAS M FLORENCIA

Carlos Paz, Provincia de Córdoba

Congreso; XXXIV Reunión Anual de la SAN; 2019

Sociedad Argentina de Investigación en Neurociencias

Sensory Systems P239.-Postnatal stress exposure impairs visual function in adult mice Juan SalvadorCalanni1, Damián Dorfman1, Florencia Gonzales Fleitas1,Hernan Hugo Dieguez1, Ruth Estela Rosentein1 1 Laboratorio de Neuroquímica Retiniana y OftalmologíaExperimental, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos - CONICET-UBA Presenting author: Juan Salvador Calanni, salvadorcalanni@gmail.com__________________________________________________________________________ The early postnatal period is characterized by extensive neuronalplasticity, synaptic organization, and remodeling. High neuroplasticity rendersthe brain sensitive to the remodeling effects induced by environmental factors,such as exposure to adversity. Long-lasting effects of early life stress (ELS)have been intensively studied in central areas of the brain, but ELS influenceon vision remains to be explored. Our aim was to assess ELS effects on visualfunction in adult mice. For that purpose, newborn C57BL/6J mice were exposed tomaternal separation during lactation and were weaned at postnatal day 17(MSEW). Visual function was evaluated in adult mice by electrophysiological andbehavioral tests. MSEW-exposed pups showed less body weight and opened eyesafter control pups. MSEW-exposed mice showed a lower negative scotopicthreshold response and photopic negative response compared to control mice,suggesting a diminished function of the inner retina. Visual acuity wasevaluated through a looming test with varying intensity stimuli. MSEW animalsneeded higher intensities of the looming stimulus to respond similarly tocontrol animals, suggesting a lower visual acuity. Finally, MSEW animals showedless side preference in a cliff avoidance test when compared to controlanimals, suggesting impaired depth perception. Altogether, our data indicate thatELS may be detrimental to visual function in adult mice.