Maternal stress in pregnancy programs endocrine function and behaviour in offspring

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The objective of this research program is to establish the long-term impact of maternal stress during pregnancy on hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA; stress axis) function and related behaviours in offspring across multiple generations. Acute and chronic stress occurs in wild and domestic animal populations. This may arise from intensive husbandry, transportation, increased predation or limited food availability. Stress, depending on its severity, will have an immediate impact on the health and longevity of the adult population, but we now have evidence that it will also have a long-term impact on the developing fetus and offspring. During our current NSERC-funded studies we have shown that periods of maternal stress can profoundly alter stress responsiveness and related behaviours in young and adult offspring. Furthermore, these effects are highly dependent on the time in pregnancy at which stress is experienced and the sex of the offspring. We now wish to extend our studies to identify the central molecular mechanisms involved in programming of adult HPA function and behaviour, in the guinea pig which like the majority of domestic species, gives birth to mature young. We also have preliminary evidence that the effects of prenatal stress can be transmitted across multiple generations, and we will investigate this further. The fact that regulation of stress hormone release in adult offspring can be programmed during fetal life, by the environment to which the mother is exposed, has tremendous implications for animal production but also for the management of wild animal populations. For example, modified regulation of stress-related hormones throughout life can lead to altered immune function and growth, as well as modified glucose homeostasis, cardiovascular regulation and behavior. There may also be influences on reproductive capacity. The new information generated by this proposal will increase our fundamental understanding of development. It will also aid in future domestic animal management (i.e. maximizing production potential), and in the management of wild animal populations.