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Maternal care, hippocampal synaptogenesis and cognitive development in rats

Nature Neuroscience volume 3, pages 799–806 (2000)Cite this article

Abstract

We report that variations in maternal care in the rat promote hippocampal synaptogenesis and spatial learning and memory through systems known to mediate experience-dependent neural development. Thus, the offspring of mothers that show high levels of pup licking and grooming and arched-back nursing showed increased expression of NMDA receptor subunit and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mRNA, increased cholinergic innervation of the hippocampus and enhanced spatial learning and memory. A cross-fostering study provided evidence for a direct relationship between maternal behavior and hippocampal development, although not all neonates were equally sensitive to variations in maternal care.

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Figure 1: Maternal behavior of high and low LG-ABN mothers.
Figure 2: Spatial learning/memory and hippocampal synaptogenesis in the adult offspring of high compared with low LG-ABN mothers.
Figure 3: Cross-fostering reverses differences in spatial learning and hippocampal synaptogenesis in the offspring of low, but not high LG-ABN mothers.
Figure 4: The adult offspring of high and low LG-ABN mothers differ in hippocampal cholinergic innervation.
Figure 5: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene expression.
Figure 6: NMDA receptor subunit gene expression.
Figure 7: NMDA receptor subunit gene expression in newborn offspring of high and low LG-ABN mothers.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the laboratory of R. Quirion, Douglas Hospital Research Centre, for advice on the acetylcholine studies and G. Kuchel for advice on the NGF mRNA in situ protocol. This research was supported by a grant from the Natural Sciences & Engineering Research Council of Canada (to M.J.M.). D.L. holds a Graduate Fellowship, J.D. a Post-Doctoral Fellowship and M.J.M. a Senior Scientist award from the Medical Research Council of Canada.

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  1. Departments of Psychiatry and Neurology & Neurosurgery McGill University,, Developmental Neuroendocrinology Laboratory, Douglas Hospital Research Centre, 6875 Boul. LaSalle, Montréal, H4H 1R3, Canada

    Dong Liu, Josie Diorio, Jamie C. Day, Darlene D. Francis & Michael J. Meaney

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Correspondence to Michael J. Meaney.

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Liu, D., Diorio, J., Day, J. et al. Maternal care, hippocampal synaptogenesis and cognitive development in rats. Nat Neurosci 3, 799–806 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/77702

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