Prenatal stress disrupts social behavior, cortical neurobiology and commensal microbes in adult male offspring.

ABSTRACT: In utero and early neonatal exposure to maternal stress is linked with psychiatric disorders, and the underlying mechanisms are currently being elucidated. We used a prenatal stressor in pregnant mice to examine novel relationships between prenatal stress exposure, changes in the gut microbiome, and social behavior. Here, we show that males exposed to prenatal stress had a significant reduction in social behavior in adulthood, with increased corticosterone release following social interaction. Male offspring exposed to prenatal stress also had neuroinflammation, decreased oxytocin receptor, and decreased serotonin metabolism in their cortex in adulthood, which are linked to decreased social behavior. Finally, we found a significant difference in commensal microbes, including decreases in B

SUBMITTER: Gur TL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6542272 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature