ARS | Publication request: MATERNAL REPROGRAMMING OF THE STRESS RESPONSE IN PIGS

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: November 4, 2005
Publication Date: November 5, 2005
Citation: Reyna, Maribel, Martinez, Susan, Welsh, Jr., Thomas H., Carroll, J.A., Laurenz, J.C. 2005. Maternal reprogramming of the stress response in pigs. Abstract No. 13. Available: http://www.tamus.edu/pathways/documents/Symposium/abstracts/2005/agriculture.doc.

Technical Abstract: Early life stress (pre and early postnatal) can predispose individuals to a variety of diseases later in life. The mechanistic basis of this relationship remains to be determined. However, evidence suggests that early life stress permanently alters the "programming" of the central nervous, neuroendocrine, and immune systems. This study used a pig model to identify components of the stress system that are altered by maternal stress and the relationship between these alterations, growth, and immune function. Results from this study confirm that maternal stress (restraint stress) during late gestation alters the progeny's hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (cortisol secretion) and sympatho-medullary (epinephrine and norepinephrine) responses to acute restraint stress. Furthermore, the altered stress response of the progeny is reflected by changes in the in vitro assessments of immune function.