Impact of Chronic Prenatal Stress on Maternal Neuroendocrine Function and Embryo and Placenta Development During Early-to-Mid-Pregnancy in Mice.

ABSTRACT: Psychological stress, both leading up to and during pregnancy, is associated with increased risk for negative pregnancy outcomes. Although the neuroendocrine circuits that link the stress response to reduced sexual motivation and mating are well-described, the specific pathways by which stress negatively impacts gestational outcomes remain unclear. Using a mouse model of chronic psychological stress during pregnancy, we investigated 1) how chronic exposure to stress during gestation impacts maternal reproductive neuroendocrine circuitry, and 2) whether stress alters developmental outcomes for the fetus or placenta by mid-pregnancy. Focusing on the stress-responsive neuropeptide RFRP-3, we identified novel contacts between RFRP-3-immunoreactive (RFRP-3-ir) cells and tuberoinfundibular dopam

SUBMITTER: Gotlieb N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9234491 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature