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Poster (Scientific congresses and symposiums)
Corticosteroid-binding capacity, but not total corticosterone, is decreased during lactation in rat dams
Pawluski, Jodi; Charlier, Thierry; Hammond, Geoffrey L et al.
200636th Annual Meeting of the Society of Neuroscience
 

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Abstract :
[en] The role of corticosterone on the hippocampal structure and function is well documented in male rats. More recently research has shown that chronically stressed female rats with elevated corticosterone levels, exhibit significant dendritic alterations in the hippocampus and, paradoxically, enhanced learning and memory performance. Similar changes have been shown with first reproductive experience (primiparity) compared to further reproductive experience (multiparity). We have shown that at the time of weaning, primiparous rats exhibit altered hippocampal morphology (Pawluski and Galea, 2006), decreased hippocampal cell survival (Pawluski and Galea 2006), and improved reference memory performance (Pawluski et al, 2006) compared to multiparous and virgin female rats. Therefore, given the similarities to what has been shown in the chronically stressed virgin female rat, it seems plausible that corticosterone may play an active role in mediating the alterations seen in primiparous rats. The present study aimed to investigate whether there are differences in the level of free circulating corticosterone during late pregnancy and the postpartum period with reproductive experience. Total corticosterone and corticosteroid-binding capacity were assayed from serum in five groups of rats; multiparous, primiparous, pregnant-only, pup-exposed virgins, and nulliparous rats on 6 days (2 days during gestation: days 14 and 19, and 4 days during lactation; days 1, 5, 14, and 21, where applicable). Results show that total corticosterone level on postpartum day 1 was significantly elevated compared to all other days. In addition, primiparous and multiparous rats have significantly lower corticosteroid-binding capacity throughout lactation. This suggests that primiparous and multiparous rats have more free-circulating corticosterone during lactation. Further research is needed to determine the mechanism underlying the changes in hippocampal structure and function with primiparity.
Disciplines :
Anatomy (cytology, histology, embryology...) & physiology
Author, co-author :
Pawluski, Jodi 
Charlier, Thierry ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences biomédicales et précliniques > Biologie de la différenciation sexuelle du cerveau
Hammond, Geoffrey L
Galea, Liisa AM
Language :
English
Title :
Corticosteroid-binding capacity, but not total corticosterone, is decreased during lactation in rat dams
Publication date :
2006
Event name :
36th Annual Meeting of the Society of Neuroscience
Event place :
Atlanta, United States
Audience :
International
Available on ORBi :
since 08 January 2010

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