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Prenatal stress alters limbo‐corticostriatal homer protein expression
Author(s) -
Ary Alexis W.,
Aguilar Valerie R.,
Szumlinski Karen K.,
Kippin Tod E.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
synapse
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.809
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1098-2396
pISSN - 0887-4476
DOI - 10.1002/syn.20439
Subject(s) - glutamatergic , striatum , prefrontal cortex , prenatal stress , offspring , glutamate receptor , neuroscience , neurotransmission , biology , gene isoform , dopamine , endocrinology , psychology , medicine , pregnancy , receptor , cognition , genetics , gene
Early environmental stress influences developmental processes resulting in alterations in behavior and brain function, including abnormalities in glutamate neurotransmission. Here, we assessed the influence of prenatal stress on limbo‐corticostriatal expression of Homer proteins that are critical elements in glutamatergic signaling. Pregnant, female Sprague–Dawley rats were subjected to either no treatment or to restraint stress 3 times per day for the last 7 days of gestation. At 21 d of age, offspring were sacrificed and brain tissue was rapidly extracted. Immunoblotting revealed regionally specific increases in certain Homer protein isoforms within prefrontal cortex and limbic structures, whereas the striatum exhibited a reduction in Homer 1a levels. These findings indicate that stress during development can produce enduring perturbations in Homer protein expression that likely contribute to glutamatergic and behavioral abnormalities observed following early environmental stress. Synapse 61:938–941, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.