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The Effect of Exposure to Noise-Induced Stress during Lactation on Cognitive Behaviors and Synaptic Plasticity in the Hippocampus of Rat Offspring
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F Aghighi    , M Salami , SA Talaei * |
| 1.Physiology Research Center, Institute for Basic Sciences, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, I.R.Iran. , talaei@kaums.ac.ir |
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Abstract: (524 Views) |
Background and Objective: The critical period of brain development is the time period between the embryonic period and early life, during which the interaction of genetics and environmental signals leads to the formation of synaptic connections. Exposure to stress during lactation can affect the neurobiological development of offspring. The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of exposure to noise-induced stress during lactation on spatial learning and memory, as well as synaptic plasticity in rat offspring.
Methods: This experimental study was conducted on 4 groups including 10 45-day-old male Wistar rats: control group (CON), and offsprings whose mothers were exposed to noise level of 95 dB for 1 (ST1) or 2 (ST2) or 4 hours (ST4) during the daily lactation. Spatial learning and memory were examined using the Morris water maze test. Basal field excitatory postsynaptic potentials were recorded in the hippocampal CA1 region, and then, long-term potentiation (LTP) was induced by high-frequency stimulation. Serum corticosterone levels of the rats were measured and compared at the end of the study.
Findings: In the ST4 group, the time spent finding the platform increased compared to the CON group (p<0.001). Furthermore, the ST4 group (8.91±0.45 seconds) spent less time in the target quadrant compared to the control group (13.23±0.74 seconds) (p<0.001). Tetanic stimulation induced LTP in CA1 neurons of the control group (0.9±0.01 mV) and conversely, induced long-term depression (LTD) in the ST4 group (0.5±0.02 mV). Corticosterone in ST4 rats (128.50±4.80 nmol/L) was significantly higher than the control group (97.63±2.90 nmol/L) (p<0.001).
Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrated that exposure of lactating rats to noise-induced stress disrupts spatial learning and memory of the offsprings, and leads to synaptic plasticity in hippocampal CA1 region in adulthood by increasing the serum corticosterone levels.
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| Keywords: Stress, Lactation, Hippocampus, Spatial Learning, Synaptic Plasticity, Rats. |
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Full-Text [PDF 476 kb]
(71 Downloads)
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Type of Study: Interventional |
Subject:
Physiology
Received: 2024/06/7 | Accepted: 2024/10/12 | Published: 2025/11/11
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