1. Prenatal glucocorticoid exposure affects learning and vulnerability of cholinergic neurons
- Author
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Luciana Giardino, Michela Paradisi, Mercedes Fernandez, Laura Calzà, Mia Emgård, Stefania Pirondi, Emgard M., Paradisi M., Pirondi S., Fernandez M., Giardino L., and Calzà L
- Subjects
Male ,Aging ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Morris water navigation task ,Receptors, Nicotinic ,Dexamethasone ,Lesion ,Rats, Sprague-Dawley ,Pregnancy ,Internal medicine ,medicine ,Animals ,Cholinergic neuron ,Maze Learning ,Maternal-Fetal Exchange ,Cerebral Cortex ,Neurons ,Fetus ,General Neuroscience ,medicine.disease ,Choline acetyltransferase ,Rats ,Endocrinology ,Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects ,Female ,Neurology (clinical) ,Disease Susceptibility ,Geriatrics and Gerontology ,medicine.symptom ,Alzheimer's disease ,Psychology ,Cognition Disorders ,Glucocorticoid ,Developmental Biology ,medicine.drug - Abstract
Prenatal treatment with synthetic glucocorticoids is commonly used as a treatment for women at risk of preterm delivery. However, little is known about the life-long consequences of these treatments on the fetus. In the present study, we evaluated cognitive function as well as susceptibility of cholinergic neurons to (192)IgG-saporin immunolesion in adult rats after prenatal glucocorticoid treatment. Morris water maze results revealed a significant difference in learning and memory function in adult rats that were prenatally exposed to dexamethasone, and further cognitive deficits after (192)IgG-saporin exposure. Choline acetyl transferase activity was decreased in the cortex of dexamethasone-treated rats compared with controls. In addition, rats prenatally exposed to either dexa, or betamethasone revealed a dramatic decrease in choline acetyl transferase activity compared to control rats after (192)IgG-saporin lesion. We report behavioral and biochemical evidence for altered cognitive function and increased susceptibility of cholinergic neurons to (192)IgG-saporin in adult rats after prenatal glucocorticoid treatment. Taken together, these results suggest that prenatal treatment with dexamethasone could affect cognitive functions and render cholinergic neurons more vulnerable to challenges later in life.
- Published
- 2005