Enriched environment treatment counteracts enhanced addictive and depressive-like behavior induced by prenatal chronic stress

Brain Res. 2006 Dec 13;1125(1):132-7. doi: 10.1016/j.brainres.2006.10.028. Epub 2006 Nov 14.

Abstract

Prenatal stress can cause many long-term behavior changes in offspring, but whether prenatal stress can alter addictive behavior in offspring and postnatal enriched environment treatment (EE) can restore these changes are unknown. We reported here that prenatal chronic stress (10 unpredictable, 1 s, 0.8 mA foot-shocks per day during gestational days 13-19) enhanced morphine-induced (10 mg/kg, s.c., per day, 6 consecutive days) place preference. Moreover, prenatal chronic stress caused higher depressive-like behavior in forced swimming test in adult offspring. However, enriched environment housing treatment on postnatal days 22-52 counteracted both the abnormal behaviors alterations. This work observed a phenomenon that might contribute to the understanding of clinically important interactions among addiction, prenatal stress and enriched environment treatment. Postnatal enriched environment treatment might be an important therapeutic intervention in preventing the prenatal stress-induced addictive disorders.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Analysis of Variance
  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn
  • Behavior, Addictive / etiology
  • Behavior, Addictive / prevention & control*
  • Behavior, Animal / drug effects
  • Behavior, Animal / physiology
  • Conditioning, Operant / drug effects
  • Conditioning, Operant / physiology
  • Depressive Disorder / etiology
  • Depressive Disorder / prevention & control*
  • Environment*
  • Female
  • Male
  • Morphine / administration & dosage
  • Narcotics / administration & dosage
  • Pregnancy
  • Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / etiology*
  • Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / psychology*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Stress, Psychological*
  • Swimming

Substances

  • Narcotics
  • Morphine