STRESS RESPONSE AND GROWTH: IMPACT OF EARLY LIFE STRESS

描述：（改编自研究者摘要）： 建议是了解关键发展时期的作用， 当改变时，使用大鼠作为动物模型导致生长失败。努力 集中在老鼠发育的两个阶段，即，前两 几周的生命，当激活和终止的压力可以改变， 相反的方向，这取决于压力源的时间和 断奶后，大鼠不再依赖母体护理， 生存重点放在下丘脑、海马体和脑垂体上 因为这些结构被认为发挥重要的神经和内分泌作用， 控制LHPA和生长激素（GH）轴。建议：1） 研究早期压力的后果（产妇在特定的 2）检查个体差异是否存在 在压力反应造成的产妇剥夺改变了 在发育过程中与功能性GH轴连接的分子的表达; 3） 努力扭转产妇匮乏的长期负面影响， 用CRH拮抗剂阻断生命早期LHPA对应激的反应; 和4）探讨儿童被视为成长的家庭中的精神病理学 评价

DESCRIPTION: (Adapted from the Investigator's Abstract): The focus of the proposal is to understand the role of critical developmental periods which, when altered, lead to growth failure using the rat as an animal model. Efforts are concentrated on two stages of the rat's development, i.e., the first two weeks of life, when activation and termination of stress can be altered in opposite directions, depending on the timing of stressors and on the post-weaning period when the rat is no longer dependent upon maternal care for survival. Focus is placed upon the hypothalamus, hippocampus, and pituitary because these structures are thought to exert important neural and endocrine control upon the LHPA and the growth hormone (GH) axes. It is proposed to: 1) examine the consequences of early stress (maternal deprivation at specified times in life) on growth parameters; 2) examine if the individual differences in stress responsiveness resulting from maternal deprivation alter the expression of molecules linked to a functional GH axis during development; 3) attempt to revert the long-term negative effects of maternal deprivation by blocking the LHPA response to stress during early life with a CRH antagonist; and 4) explore psychopathology in families of children being seen for growth evaluation.