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Stress inhibits the proliferation of granule cell precursors in the developing dentate gyrus
Author(s) -
Tanapat Patima,
Galea Liisa A.m,
Gould Elizabeth
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
international journal of developmental neuroscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.761
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1873-474X
pISSN - 0736-5748
DOI - 10.1016/s0736-5748(98)00029-x
Subject(s) - dentate gyrus , neurogenesis , granule cell , corticosterone , granule (geology) , endocrinology , medicine , glucocorticoid , population , neuroscience , biology , chemistry , central nervous system , hormone , paleontology , environmental health
The granule cell population of the dentate gyrus is produced predominantly during the postnatal period in rats. Previous studies have shown that experimental increases in the levels of adrenal steroids suppress the proliferation of granule cell precursors during the first postnatal week, the time of maximal neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus. These findings raise the possibility that stressful experiences that elevate adrenal steroid levels may inhibit the production of granule neurons, and thus alter the development of the dentate gyrus. To test this possibility, we exposed naive rat pups to the odors of a known predator, adult male rats, and examined both plasma corticosterone levels and the number of 3 H‐thymidine labeled cells in the dentate gyrus. A single exposure of rat pups to adult male rat odor elevated corticosterone levels immediately and diminished the number of 3 H‐thymidine labeled cells in the granule cell layer by 24 h later. These results suggest that stressful experiences suppress the production of granule neurons in the developing dentate gyrus.