Repeated intranasal oxytocin administration in early life dysregulates the HPA axis and alters social behavior

2013 ◽  
Vol 112-113 ◽  
pp. 40-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Loup Rault ◽  
C. Sue Carter ◽  
Joseph P. Garner ◽  
Jeremy N. Marchant-Forde ◽  
Brian T. Richert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hpa Axis ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Niki H. Kamkar ◽  
Cassandra J Lowe ◽  
J. Bruce Morton

Although there is an abundance of evidence linking the function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis to adverse early-life experiences, the precise nature of the association remains unclear. Some evidence suggests early-life adversity leads to cortisol hyper-reactivity, while other evidence suggests adversity leads to cortisol hypo-reactivity. Here, we distinguish between trauma and adversity, and use p-curves to interrogate the conflicting literature. In Study 1, trauma was operationalized according to DSM-5 criteria; the p-curve analysis included 68 articles and revealed that the literature reporting associations between trauma and blunted cortisol reactivity contains evidential value. Study 2 examined the relationship between adversity and cortisol reactivity. Thirty articles were included in the analysis, and p-curve demonstrated that adversity is related to heightened cortisol reactivity. These results support an inverted U-shaped function relating severity of adversity and cortisol reactivity, and underscore the importance of distinguishing between “trauma” and “adversity”.


Author(s):  
Mario F. Juruena ◽  
Filip Eror ◽  
Anthony J. Cleare ◽  
Allan H. Young

2019 ◽  
Vol 222 (6) ◽  
pp. jeb187039 ◽  
Author(s):  
David J. Walker ◽  
Cédric Zimmer ◽  
Maria Larriva ◽  
Susan D. Healy ◽  
Karen A. Spencer

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (19) ◽  
pp. 7212
Author(s):  
Mayumi Nishi

Early-life stress during the prenatal and postnatal periods affects the formation of neural networks that influence brain function throughout life. Previous studies have indicated that maternal separation (MS), a typical rodent model equivalent to early-life stress and, more specifically, to child abuse and/or neglect in humans, can modulate the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, affecting subsequent neuronal function and emotional behavior. However, the neural basis of the long-lasting effects of early-life stress on brain function has not been clarified. In the present review, we describe the alterations in the HPA-axis activity—focusing on serum corticosterone (CORT)—and in the end products of the HPA axis as well as on the CORT receptor in rodents. We then introduce the brain regions activated during various patterns of MS, including repeated MS and single exposure to MS at various stages before weaning, via an investigation of c-Fos expression, which is a biological marker of neuronal activity. Furthermore, we discuss the alterations in behavior and gene expression in the brains of adult mice exposed to MS. Finally, we ask whether MS repeats itself and whether intergenerational transmission of child abuse and neglect is possible.


2009 ◽  
Vol 24 (S1) ◽  
pp. 1-1
Author(s):  
B. Van den Bergh ◽  
B. Van Calster ◽  
T. Smits ◽  
S. Van Huffel ◽  
A. Simons ◽  
...  

Early-life exposure to adverse environmental cues during critical windows of time in the prenatal and/or early postnatal life period could predispose the individual for somatic andmental diseases. This especially holds for stress-related disorders such as depression in which HPA-axis dysregulation plays a pathophysiological role. This is in line with the ‘fetal (or developmental) programming-hypothesis’ which has been tested in numerous preclinical experimental. We tested this hypothesis in humans in a prospective longitudinal study in which maternal emotional state was measured during each pregnancy trimester and after pregnancy. When the offspring was 14-15 years old, HPA-axis function was measured through establishing a saliva day-time cortisol profile. Severity of depressive symptoms was measured with the Children's Depression Inventory. Repeated measurements regression analysis and ordinary least-squares regression analyses indicated that maternal anxiety at 12-22 weeks of pregnancy was in female and male offspring associated with a diurnal cortisol profile that was attenuated due to elevated cortisol secretion in the evening. Moreover, in female adolescents this flattened cortisol curve was associated with depressive symptoms. Our results indicate that maternal anxiety during pregnancy enhances neurobiological vulnerability to depressive symptoms, possibly by altering (or ‘programming") foetal physiology. If our results can be replicated in future research they may lead to a re-orientation of the target of primary prevention and treatment of depressive symptoms. Preliminary results of a study on the association between prenatal exposure to maternal anxiety and cortisol stress responsivity during inoculation in the four month old will be presented.


2009 ◽  
Vol 40 (9) ◽  
pp. 1569-1578 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Gerritsen ◽  
M. I. Geerlings ◽  
A. T. F. Beekman ◽  
D. J. H. Deeg ◽  
B. W. J. H. Penninx ◽  
...  

BackgroundIt has been hypothesized that stressful life events are associated with changes in hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis regulation, which increases susceptibility to psychiatric disorders. We investigated the association of early and late life events with HPA axis regulation in older persons.MethodWithin the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA) 1055 participants (47% male), aged 63–93 years, collected saliva within 30 min after waking and late in the evening. Early and late life events were assessed during a home interview. The associations between life events and cortisol levels were examined using linear regression and analysis of covariance with adjustments for demographics, cardiovascular risk factors and depressive symptoms.ResultsWithin our sample, the median morning and evening cortisol levels were 15.0 nmol/l [interdecile range (10–90%): 7.4–27.0 nmol/l] and 2.8 nmol/l (10–90%: 1.5–6.3 nmol/l), respectively. Persons who reported early life events showed lower levels of natural log-transformed morning cortisol [B=−0.10, 95% confidence interval (CI) −0.17 to −0.04] and flattened diurnal variability of cortisol (B=−1.06, 95% CI −2.05 to −0.08). Those reporting two or more late life events showed higher levels of natural log-transformed morning cortisol (B=0.10, 95% CI 0.02–0.18) and higher diurnal variability (B=1.19, 95% CI 0.05–2.33). No associations were found with evening cortisol.ConclusionsThe results of this large population-based study of older persons suggest a differential association of early and late life events with HPA axis regulation; early life events were associated with a relative hypo-secretion of morning cortisol and flattened diurnal variability, while late life events were associated with elevated secretion of morning cortisol and high diurnal variability of cortisol.


2011 ◽  
Vol 140 (5) ◽  
pp. S-462-S-463
Author(s):  
Melissa Alberto ◽  
Wendy Shih ◽  
Angela P. Presson ◽  
Arlene Licudine ◽  
Emeran A. Mayer ◽  
...  

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