Effect of prenatal immobilization stress on spatial memory, anxiety-like behavior and brain BDNF concentration in the F1 generation male mice

Abstract

Background and Aim: In this study, we investigated the effect of immobilization stress during pregnancy on the spatial memory, anxiety-like behavior and brain BDNF level in F1 generation male NMRI mice. Materials and Methods: Twenty female pregnant mice were randomly divided into stress and control groups. The stress group received stress using a restraint cylinder (6 cm ID, 20 cm L) 60 min/day from the 1st to the 15th day of pregnancy. The control group did not receive stress. The male F1 offspring was nursed by their mothers (n=10/group) until reaching weights between 20 and 25 g. Then they were tested for spatial memory using Barnes maze and anxiety-like behavior by the elevated plus-maze. Also, brain BDNF level was measured by means of an ELISA reader. Results: Barnes maze test results showed that the time and distance to reach the target hole were significantly (p<0.001) increased in the stress group. Also, the number of errors and anxiety-like behavior in the stress group were significantly (p<0.001) increased compared to those in the control group (p<0.001). BDNF level in the brain was significantly (p<0.05) higher in the control group. Conclusion: The present study indicated that prenatal stress can lead to decreased level of BDNF in the brain of the offspring which may result in spatial memory disorder and anxietylike behavior.

Keywords

• restraint stress
• barnes maze
• spatial memory
• anxiety-like behavior
• bdnf