Influence of metyrapone treatment during pregnancy on the development and maturation of brain monoaminergic systems in the rat. 2009

M L Leret, and C Rua, and M Garcia-Montojo, and M Lecumberri, and J C González
Department of Animal Physiology, Complutense University of Madrid, Spain. mlleret@bio.ucm.es

OBJECTIVE This study examines the effect of reducing the corticosterone levels of gestating rat dams on the postnatal development and maturation of monoaminergic systems in their offspring's brains. METHODS Metyrapone, an inhibitor of CORT synthesis, was administered to pregnant rats from E0 to E17 of gestation. Monoamine concentrations were determined in male and female offspring at postnatal days (PN) 23 and 90 in the hippocampus, hypothalamus and striatum. RESULTS Reducing maternal corticosterone (mCORT) during gestation led to alterations in dopamine and serotonin levels in all three brain areas studied at PN 23. Alterations persisted until at least PN 90 in the serotonergic systems; the dopamine content of the hippocampus also remained modified. Reduced mCORT during gestation also led to alterations in the development and maturation of the hypothalamic noradrenergic systems. Sexually dimorphic responses were observed in all these monoaminergic systems at different times. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that while they are still developing, brain monoaminergic systems are particularly sensitive to epigenetic influences. An adequate foetal level of CORT is required for the normal ontogeny of brain monoaminergic systems. The present data also provide that during the critical period of brain development, maternal CORT plays an important role in the sexual differentiation of monoaminergic systems, with particular influence on brain serotonergic neurones.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008797 Metyrapone An inhibitor of the enzyme STEROID 11-BETA-MONOOXYGENASE. It is used as a test of the feedback hypothalamic-pituitary mechanism in the diagnosis of CUSHING SYNDROME. Methbipyranone,Methopyrapone,Metopiron,Metopirone,Métopirone,SU 4885
D009638 Norepinephrine Precursor of epinephrine that is secreted by the ADRENAL MEDULLA and is a widespread central and autonomic neurotransmitter. Norepinephrine is the principal transmitter of most postganglionic sympathetic fibers, and of the diffuse projection system in the brain that arises from the LOCUS CERULEUS. It is also found in plants and is used pharmacologically as a sympathomimetic. Levarterenol,Levonorepinephrine,Noradrenaline,Arterenol,Levonor,Levophed,Levophed Bitartrate,Noradrenaline Bitartrate,Noradrénaline tartrate renaudin,Norepinephrin d-Tartrate (1:1),Norepinephrine Bitartrate,Norepinephrine Hydrochloride,Norepinephrine Hydrochloride, (+)-Isomer,Norepinephrine Hydrochloride, (+,-)-Isomer,Norepinephrine d-Tartrate (1:1),Norepinephrine l-Tartrate (1:1),Norepinephrine l-Tartrate (1:1), (+,-)-Isomer,Norepinephrine l-Tartrate (1:1), Monohydrate,Norepinephrine l-Tartrate (1:1), Monohydrate, (+)-Isomer,Norepinephrine l-Tartrate (1:2),Norepinephrine l-Tartrate, (+)-Isomer,Norepinephrine, (+)-Isomer,Norepinephrine, (+,-)-Isomer
D011247 Pregnancy The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH. Gestation,Pregnancies
D011297 Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects The consequences of exposing the FETUS in utero to certain factors, such as NUTRITION PHYSIOLOGICAL PHENOMENA; PHYSIOLOGICAL STRESS; DRUGS; RADIATION; and other physical or chemical factors. These consequences are observed later in the offspring after BIRTH. Delayed Effects, Prenatal Exposure,Late Effects, Prenatal Exposure
D001921 Brain The part of CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM that is contained within the skull (CRANIUM). Arising from the NEURAL TUBE, the embryonic brain is comprised of three major parts including PROSENCEPHALON (the forebrain); MESENCEPHALON (the midbrain); and RHOMBENCEPHALON (the hindbrain). The developed brain consists of CEREBRUM; CEREBELLUM; and other structures in the BRAIN STEM. Encephalon
D001923 Brain Chemistry Changes in the amounts of various chemicals (neurotransmitters, receptors, enzymes, and other metabolites) specific to the area of the central nervous system contained within the head. These are monitored over time, during sensory stimulation, or under different disease states. Chemistry, Brain,Brain Chemistries,Chemistries, Brain
D003345 Corticosterone An adrenocortical steroid that has modest but significant activities as a mineralocorticoid and a glucocorticoid. (From Goodman and Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 8th ed, p1437)
D004298 Dopamine One of the catecholamine NEUROTRANSMITTERS in the brain. It is derived from TYROSINE and is the precursor to NOREPINEPHRINE and EPINEPHRINE. Dopamine is a major transmitter in the extrapyramidal system of the brain, and important in regulating movement. A family of receptors (RECEPTORS, DOPAMINE) mediate its action. Hydroxytyramine,3,4-Dihydroxyphenethylamine,4-(2-Aminoethyl)-1,2-benzenediol,Dopamine Hydrochloride,Intropin,3,4 Dihydroxyphenethylamine,Hydrochloride, Dopamine
D004791 Enzyme Inhibitors Compounds or agents that combine with an enzyme in such a manner as to prevent the normal substrate-enzyme combination and the catalytic reaction. Enzyme Inhibitor,Inhibitor, Enzyme,Inhibitors, Enzyme

Related Publications

M L Leret, and C Rua, and M Garcia-Montojo, and M Lecumberri, and J C González
February 2012, Rossiiskii fiziologicheskii zhurnal imeni I.M. Sechenova,
M L Leret, and C Rua, and M Garcia-Montojo, and M Lecumberri, and J C González
December 1998, Brain research. Developmental brain research,
M L Leret, and C Rua, and M Garcia-Montojo, and M Lecumberri, and J C González
April 1979, Agents and actions,
M L Leret, and C Rua, and M Garcia-Montojo, and M Lecumberri, and J C González
May 1993, [Hokkaido igaku zasshi] The Hokkaido journal of medical science,
M L Leret, and C Rua, and M Garcia-Montojo, and M Lecumberri, and J C González
January 1983, Polish journal of pharmacology and pharmacy,
M L Leret, and C Rua, and M Garcia-Montojo, and M Lecumberri, and J C González
April 2009, Neurotoxicity research,
M L Leret, and C Rua, and M Garcia-Montojo, and M Lecumberri, and J C González
April 1976, Research communications in chemical pathology and pharmacology,
M L Leret, and C Rua, and M Garcia-Montojo, and M Lecumberri, and J C González
January 1987, NIDA research monograph,
M L Leret, and C Rua, and M Garcia-Montojo, and M Lecumberri, and J C González
January 1983, Journal of neural transmission,
M L Leret, and C Rua, and M Garcia-Montojo, and M Lecumberri, and J C González
January 1995, Neurotoxicology,
Copied contents to your clipboard!