Maternal separation alters serotonergic and HPA axis gene expression independent of separation duration in c57bl/6 mice

Abstract Adverse early life experiences (aELEs), such as child abuse, neglect, or trauma, increase lifetime vulnerability for mental illness. In this study, aELEs were modeled in c57bl/6 mice using the maternal separation (MS) paradigm, in which pups were separated for 180 min/day (MS180), 15 min/da...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Brain research 2013-06, Vol.1515, p.29-38
Main Authors: Own, Lawrence S, Iqbal, Rimsha, Patel, Paresh D
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
adults
behavior disorders
Behavioral psychophysiology
Biological and medical sciences
c57bl/6 mice
child abuse
DNA methylation
Early handling
Early life stress
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
gene expression
glucocorticoid receptors
hippocampus
Hormones and behavior
HPA axis
life events
Maternal separation
mice
Neurology
Neurotransmission and behavior
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
pups
Serotonin
tryptophan
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Summary:Abstract Adverse early life experiences (aELEs), such as child abuse, neglect, or trauma, increase lifetime vulnerability for mental illness. In this study, aELEs were modeled in c57bl/6 mice using the maternal separation (MS) paradigm, in which pups were separated for 180 min/day (MS180), 15 min/day (MS15), or left undisturbed (AFR) from postnatal day 2–14. As adults, pups that experienced MS15 or MS180 demonstrated decreases in tryptophan hydroxylase 2 and serotonin transporter mRNA in the dorsal raphe dorsalis and ventralis, and increases in glucocorticoid receptor mRNA in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. To investigate factors underlying shared expression between MS conditions, dam on-nest time and DNA methylation at the TPH2 promoter and 5′ UTR were assessed. Post-reunion on-nest time increased as a function of separation duration, potentially serving as a mitigating factor underlying similar expression between MS conditions. TPH2 DNA methylation remained unchanged, suggesting changes in TPH2 mRNA are not mediated by changes in DNA methylation of this region. The shared pattern of expression between MS15 and MS180 conditions suggests a species- or strain- specific response to MS unique to c57bl/6 mice.
ISSN:0006-8993
1872-6240
DOI:10.1016/j.brainres.2013.03.032