Effects of early life stress on brain plasticity

我们通过小鼠母体分离(MS)研究了早期生活应激对大脑可塑性的影响，这为深入研究基因与环境之间的相互作用机制提供了一条途径。我们发现，应激激素皮质酮水平在成年期升高，杏仁核延长区神经元活性增强，包括内源性大麻素在内的几个调节学习记忆的基因的表达水平发生变化。此外，我们观察到一些行为变化，如厌恶记忆的减少，对美味食物的动机在成年后。

We investigated effects of early life stress on brain plasticity by using mouse maternal separation (MS), which provides one avenue for delving into the mechanisms mediating interactions between genes and environment. We found that the blood level of stress hormone, corticosterone, increased at adult stage, neuronal activity in the extended amygdala was promoted, and the expression level of several genes regulating learning and memory including endocannabinoid was altered. Furthermore, we observed some behavioral changes such as decrease in aversive memory, motivation for palatable foods in the adulthood.