Source: Science Daily
Rats exposed to stress during early development inherit the effects of that stress to their offspring, largely expressed in behavior impairments but also characteristics of resilience, shows a new study from the University of Haifa, published in the journal Developmental Psychobiology.
Providing environmental enrichment to the future mother rats had a remedial role on some of the negative effects. “The similarities between rats and humans raise the question of whether similar effects might transpire in humans; for example, exposure to war or natural disasters might have heritable effects,” explains Prof. Micah Leshem who headed the study.
The study, conducted by Prof. Leshem of the Department of Psychology at the University of Haifa along with Prof. Jay Schulkin of Georgetown University and postgraduate students Hiba Zaidan and Neta Kvetniy-Ferdman, set out to examine the cross-generational effects of early exposure to stress and enrichment. The researchers examined rats because of their resemblance to humans and their rapid rate of development and reproduction, which facilitates cross-generational studies.
The researchers studied 40 female rats weaned at 27 days of age. One group of these females — the control group — was then raised normally in individual cages; the second group was exposed to different stressors; the third was enriched; and the fourth group was both stressed and enriched. The matured rats were mated at 60 days, had normal pregnancies and births, and their offspring pups were divided into two groups — one raised normally, and the other raised in an enriched environment, so that the effect of “therapy” on the next generation could also be evaluated. The offspring groups were then evaluated with respect to social interaction, anxiety levels, ability to learn and capacity to cope with fear.
Categories: Health, Psychology