Maternally derived hormones, neurosteroids and the development of behaviour.

ABSTRACT: In a wide range of taxa, there is evidence that mothers adaptively shape the development of offspring behaviour by exposing them to steroids. These maternal effects have major implications for fitness because, by shaping early development, they can permanently alter how offspring interact with their environment. However, theory on parent-offspring conflict and recent physiological studies showing that embryos rapidly metabolize maternal steroids have placed doubt on the adaptive significance of these hormone-mediated maternal effects. Reconciling these disparate perspectives requires a mechanistic understanding of the pathways by which maternal steroids can influence neural development. Here, we highlight recent advances in developmental neurobiology and psychiatric pharmacology to show th

SUBMITTER: Mouton JC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7893274 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature