Maternal Separation Affects Mothers’ Affective and Reproductive Behaviors as Well as Second Offspring’s Emotionality
- 1 Laboratory of Genetic, Neuroendocrinology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Sciences, Ibn Tofail University, Kenitra, Morocco
- 2 Laboratory of Genetic, Neuroendocrinology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Sciences, Ibn Tofail University, Kenitra, Morocco
- 3 Laboratory of Genetic, Neuroendocrinology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Sciences, Ibn Tofail University, Kenitra, Morocco
- 4 Laboratory of Genetic, Neuroendocrinology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Sciences, Ibn Tofail University, Kenitra, Morocco
- 5 Laboratory of Genetic, Neuroendocrinology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Sciences, Ibn Tofail University, Kenitra, Morocco
Abstract
Daily separation of rat pups from their mothers while the preweaning period has an impact on behavior and stress response of pups. We hypothesized that maternal separation may create a depression-like state in mother rats from which we separate the rat pups and decrease their reproductive function and fertility. Also, we aimed to evaluate the transmission degree of depression and anxiety across generations. Females aged 3 months were divided in two groups of 10 rats each. After a first mating and a first parturition, we conducted maternal separation 3 h during 22 days for the experienced group while the control group mothers kept their pups. At 4 months of age, females underwent behavioral tests and a second mating. Second generation’s pups were also subjected to behavioral tests. Behavioral tests showed that mothers which experienced separation were more depressive and anxious than control ones, also they had a lower litter size. Rats pups of the second generation whose mothers experienced maternal separation also revealed behavior changes akin to depression and anxiety. Thus, maternal separation causes depressive and anxious-likestates on mother rats which experienced separation and has an impact on their litter size. Also, consequences of maternal separation seem to last throughout generations.
- F. P. Della, H. M. Abelaira, G. Z. Réus, A. R. Antunes, M. A. B. Dos Santos, G. Zappelinni, A. V. Steckert, F. Vuolo, L. S. Galant, F. Dal-Pizzol, F. Kapczinski and J. Quevedo, “Tianeptine Exerts Neuroprotective Effects in the Brain Tissue of Rats Exposed to the Chronic Stress Model Pharmacology,” Biochemistry and Behavior, Vol. 103, No. 2, 2012, pp. 395-402. doi:10.1016/j.pbb.2012.09.018
- O. Kofman, “The Role of Prenatal Stress in the Etiology of Developmental Behavioural Disorders,” Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, Vol. 26, No. 4, 2002, pp. 457-470. doi:10.1016/S0149-7634(02)00015-5
- U. Pauli-Pott, S. Friedel, A. Hinney and J. Hebebrand, “Serotonin Transporter Gene Polymorphism (5-HTTLPR), Environmental Conditions, and Developing Negative Emotionality and Fear in Early Childhood,” Journal of Neural Transmission, Vol. 116, No. 4, pp. 503-512. doi:10.1007/s00702-008-0171-z
- M. Durand, O. Berton, S. Aguere, L. Edno, I. Combourieu, P. Mormede and F. Chaouloff, “Effects of Repeated-Fluoxetine on Anxiety-Relatedbehaviours, Central Sero-Tonergic Systems, and the Corticotropic Axis in SHR and WKY Rats,” Neuropharmacology, Vol. 38, 1999, pp. 893-907. doi:10.1016/S0028-3908(99)00009-X
- A. G. Nasselo, C. Machado, J. F. Bastos and L. Felicio, “Sudden Darkness Induces a High Activity-Lower Anxiety State in Male and Female Rats,” Physiology & Behavior, 1998, Vol. 63, No. 3, pp. 451-454. doi:10.1016/S0031-9384(97)00462-9
- L. Meyer, J. Caston and A. Mensah-Nyagan, “Seasonal Variation of the Impact of a Stressful Procedure on Open Field Behaviour and Blood Corticosterone in Laboratory Mice,” Behavioural Brain Research, Vol. 167, 2006, pp. 342-348. doi:10.1016/S0031-9384(97)00462-9
- F. Clenet, E. Bouyon, M. Hasco and M. Bourin, “Light/ Dark Cycle Manipulation Influences Mice Behavior in the Elevated Plus Maze,” Behavioural Brain Research, Vol. 166, 2006, pp. 140-149. doi:10.1016/j.bbr.2005.07.018
- S. Pellower, P. Chopin, S. E. File and M. Briley, “Validation of Open: Closed Arms Entries in an Elevated PlusMaze as a Measure of Anxiety in the Rat,” Journal of Neuroscience Methods, Vol. 14, No. 3, 1985, pp. 149-167. doi:10.1016/0165-0270(85)90031-7
- R. D. Porsolt, G. Anton, N. Blavet and M. Jalfre, “Behavioural Despair in Rats: A New Model Sensitive to Antidepressant Treatments,” European Journal of Pharmacology, Vol. 47, No. 4, 1978, pp. 379-391. doi:10.1016/0014-2999(78)90118-8
- M. L. Boccia, M. Razzoli, S. P. Vadlamudi, W. Trumbull, C. Caleffie and C. A. Pedersen, “Repeated Long Separations from Pups Produce Depression-Like Behavior in Rat Mothers,” Psychoneuroendocrinology, Vol. 32, No. 1, 2007, pp. 65-71. doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2006.10.004