Detrimental effect of prenatal progesterone exposure on anxiety and depressive-like responses in adult male and female rat offspring: Role of plasma, hippocampal corticosterone and hippocampal progesterone receptors

Oct 11, 2024Physiology & behavior

Prenatal progesterone exposure linked to anxiety and depression-like behavior in adult male and female rats, related to stress hormones and hormone receptors in the brain

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Abstract

Prenatal exposure to progesterone at low and high doses (10 and 50 mg/kg) induces anxiogenic and depressive-like effects in adult rat offspring.

  • Behavioral tests revealed increased anxiety and depressive-like behaviors in both male and female offspring exposed to prenatal progesterone.
  • Elevated plasma and hippocampal corticosterone levels were observed in adult offspring following prenatal progesterone treatment.
  • Increased expression of progesterone receptors was measured in the hippocampus of both sexes after prenatal exposure to progesterone.
  • These findings suggest that prenatal exposure to progesterone may lead to long-term emotional disturbances linked to hormonal changes.

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