1Department of Zoology, Meerut College, CCS University, Meerut, UP (India)
2Noida International University, Greater Noida (India)
3Department of Environmental Science, Gurukul Kangari University, Haridwar, UK (India)
A suboptimal in utero environment as a result of maternal stress and administration of heavy metal lead (Pb) can have harmful effects on the pregnancy and long term adverse ‘programming’ effects on the offspring. Social stress and exposure to lead (Pb) during early pregnancy results in pregnancy loss, whereas stress exposure during early pregnancy results in programmed offspring of low birth weight. The effects on postnatal development and behaviour were assessed in the offspring of female rats exposed to lead (Pb) and restraint stress. Neuroendocrine and behavioural responses to stress in the offspring are sensitive to foetal programming by prenatal stress, indicated by enhanced hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis responses and increased anxiety behaviour, which results from permanent changes in the offspring's brain. The dysregulation of HPA axis function may also interfere with other systems, for example, the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, as there is evidence for alterations in the steroidogenesis, reproductive potential and impaired reproductive/social behaviours in prenatally stressed offspring's. The possible mechanism through which maternal stress during pregnancy is transmitted to the foetal brain is programmed by prenatal stress.
Maternal stress, programming’ effects, behavioural responses, steroidogenesis, reproductive potential
