Prenatal stress affects on mammalian neocortex development and long-term neurobehavioural responses to stress

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This research program examines how early environmental experience affects mammalian brain development and adult behaviour. Glucocorticoids (GCs)-a type of steroid hormone that plays an important role during fetal development-are administered as standard treatment for a number of conditions in obstetrics and perinatal medicine, however the effects of increased GC exposure on early life development of the brain remain unknown. Studies have demonstrated that GCs have a profound influence on offspring, affecting social, emotional and cognitive development, which is endured through life. The mechanism associated with the persistence of environmentally-induced effects remains in question: What biological and behavioural pathways can lead to the continuity of the effects of GCs? Certainly, the prenatal environment plays a significant developmental role and, in the case of the maternal transmission of stress effects, alterations in the levels of hormones associated with fetal development is a candidate mechanism. Dr. Weaver's research proposal aims to examine the effects of GC exposure on the development of neurons in a part of the brain (the cortex). More specifically, he will study the fate of the limited pool of cortical neural stem cells after GC exposure during embryonic development and the impact of this exposure on brain structure. Additionally, he will explore the underlying genetic and epigenetic mechanisms that support the development of physiological and behavioural responses to stress that are maintained into adulthood.Dr. Weaver's research program will provide insight into adaptive responses to early environmental stressors at neural and behavioural levels, using an integrative, comparative and multidisciplinary approach. From a biology perspective, unraveling the long-term effects of prenatal GC exposure on specific endocrine and behavioural outcomes in the offspring may provide new insight into mechanisms of resilience and vulnerability to stress. The results of this work may also have important implications for future studies examining the effects of prenatal and perinatal experiences on adaptive brain function.