The epigenetic regulation of brain development by maternal stress

皮质醇作为一种应激激素，通过海马体和下丘脑的GR受体影响大脑功能。在本研究中，我们用钙离子成像方法探讨了GR受体在小鼠海马神经元中的激活机制。结果提示，皮质酮对NMDA受体亚基之一NR2a的翻译上调有作用。而这种现象可能会被NR2a特异性激动剂D-丝氨酸重现。此外，在母体分离应激实验中，虽然小鼠海马区GR的mRNA表达没有变化，但GR的蛋白表达明显下降。这些结果提示皮质酮对幼年期的突触传递和GR表达有调节作用。

The cortisol as a stress hormone affects brain function through the GR receptor in hippocampus and hypothalamus. In this study, we evaluated the activation mechanism through GR receptor in mouse hippocampal neurons using Ca2+ imaging method. The results suggested that corticosterone effect to the up-regulation of translation of NR2A, one of the NMDA receptor subunit. And this phenomenon could reappear by D-serine, a NR2A specific agonist. Moreover, in mouse maternal separation stress experiment, although the mRNA expression of GR was changeless in hippocampus, protein expression of GR was remarkable decreased. these results suggested that corticosterone have regulate the synaptic transmission and GR expression in immature stage.