The impact of the mother on the hypothalamic-pituit aryadrenal, hypothalamic-pituit ary-gonadal and somatotropic axes activity of offspring during postnatal ontogeny

Abstract

During the rearing period, most of the physiological processes of offspring are under maternal regulation, which overcomes the influence of external environmental factors. Maternal deprivation activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis of young mammal which in turn causes the adaptation of the developing organism to the new circumstances. It is considered that too early interruption of the mother-offspring ties may activate the not fully developed HPA axis and change the functions of the other hormonal systems of growing mammals. This article reviews the changes in the activity of thesomatotropic and gonadotropic axes in young rodents and sheep during the physiological condition known as a rearing period and after maternal separation which is thought to be a stressful event in animal ontogeny. Furthermore, the current review also focus on the changes of the HPA axis hormone secretion of offspring caused by maternal deprivation.

Keywords

• maternal deprivation stress, postnatal ontogeny, puberty onset, weaning