Maternal chronic stress induces premature telencephalic vesicles development

MUGNAINI MT; SOÑEZ CA; ROLANDO AN; ROMANINI MC; BOZZO AA; PASTORINO IC; GAUNA HF; PAZ DA

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MORPHOLOGY

Sociedad Chilena de Anatomía

Lugar: Temuco, Chile; Año: 2006 vol. 24 p. 525 - 530

0717-9367

SUMMARY: Exposure to physical or psychological stress causes brain damage ranging from minimal behavioural alterations to different neurodegeneration degrees implying the overproduction of oxidative-nitrosative compounds, apoptosis and cell proliferation. In the present investigation, we have analysed the effect of the chronic stress by immobilisation applied to pregnant rats over the forebrain development of the embryos. The morphometric analyses showed an accelerated evagination of the telencephalic vesicles in 12 days old fetus from stressed mothers. The forebrain perimeter and the thickness showed significative differences in relation to age-matched controls. This stress effect seemed reversible during subsequent gestational stages. This is the first work showing a transient acceleration in the development induced by the gestational stress. Our model provides a new tool for studying the effect of the stress on the development.