The influence of early postnatal chronic mild stress stimulation on the activation of amygdala in adult rat

Publication date: Available online 8 January 2020Source: Journal of Chemical NeuroanatomyAuthor(s): A. Ebertowska, B. Ludkiewicz, N. Melka, I. Klejbor, J. MoryśAbstractAmygdala is a limbic structure involved in the stress response. The immunohistochemical and morphometric methods were used to examine whether the chronic mild psychological stress during the early postnatal period would change activation of amygdaloid nuclei in response to the same stressor in adult. In the study we focused on the role of neurons containing calbindin (CB), calretinin (CR), parvalbumin (PV) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS).The rats were divided into three groups: control non-stressed animals and two experimental: EI consisted of animals that were exposed to acute stress in the high-light, open-field test (HL-OF) at P90 (P – postnatal day) and EII consisted of rats that were exposed to chronic stress in HL-OF, daily during the first 21 postnatal days and then once at P90.The scheme of activation of amygdaloid nuclei under stress in EI and EII group was similar. The highest density of c-Fos-ir cells (c-Fos – a marker of neuronal activation) was demonstrated by the medial nucleus (Me) and bed nucleus of the accessory olfactory tract (BAOT). The amygdaloid nuclei diversity after HL-OF was determined by the high activation of the NOS-ir cells in the Me and NOS- and CR-ir cells in the BAOT. These are probably projection neurons involved in modulation of defensive, reproductive and autonomic behavi...
Source: Journal of Chemical Neuroanatomy - Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research