Early postnatal maternal temporary isolation stress in rats contributes to the development of anxiety-depressive symptoms in adulthood

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Depressive disorders are becoming increasingly prevalent and represent a significant social issue with heavy economic implications.

AIM: To study the effects of maternal temporary isolation during early ontogenesis on the development of anxiety and depressive symptoms in adult rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study employed a maternal temporary isolation model as a form of early postnatal stress (from postnatal days 2 to 12). Two experimental groups were formed: a control group (n=20) and an “early maternal temporary isolation” group (n=20). On the 90th day of life, a behavioral test battery was used to assess the impact of early postnatal stress on the development of anxiety-depressive symptoms. The behavioral tests included the elevated plus maze, the Porsolt forced swim test, and the sucrose preference test.

RESULTS: Behavioral testing in the elevated plus maze revealed that rats exposed to early maternal temporary isolation showed reduced time spent in the open arms and increased time in the closed arms compared to the control group, indicating heightened anxiety levels. In the Porsolt test, the early isolation group demonstrated increased immobility time compared to the control group. In the sucrose preference test, the early isolation group exhibited reduced sucrose solution preference, indicative of anhedonia.

CONCLUSION: Stress exposure during early ontogenesis, a critical period for the development and maturation of brain structures responsible for psychoemotional behavior, can lead to their dysregulation and serves as a predictor for the development of anxiety-depressive symptoms in adult rats.

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About the authors

Sarng S. Pyurveev

Saint Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University; Institute of Experimental Medicine

Author for correspondence.
Email: dr.purveev@gmail.com
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-4467-2269
SPIN-code: 5915-9767

MD, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Pathological Physiology with the Course of Immunopathology, Saint Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation; Research Associate, Department of Neuropharmacology, Institute of Experimental Medicine

Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg; Saint Petersburg

Mikhail S. Nekrasov

Saint Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University

Email: nekrasov2013@inbox.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-9434-1433
SPIN-code: 8704-2209

Postgraduate Student of the Department of Pharmacology with a Course of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacoeconomics

Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg

Andrei G. Vasiliev

Saint Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University

Email: avas7@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-8539-7128
SPIN-code: 1985-4025

MD, PhD, Dr. Sci. (Medicine), Professor, Head of the Department of Pathological Physiology with a Course in Immunology

Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg

Nikolai S. Dedanishvili

Saint Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University

Email: votrenicolas@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-6231-445X
SPIN-code: 9472-0556

6th year Student of the Pediatric Faculty

Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg

Nikita A. Luzhnov

Institute of Experimental Medicine; Samara State Medical University

Email: Nik.luzhnov.01@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0009-0008-0628-4389

6th year Student of the Pediatric Faculty of Samara State Medical University, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation; laboratory research assistant, Department of Neuropharmacology named after S.V. Anichkov, Institute of Experimental Medicine

Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg; Samara

Rodion V. Korablev

Saint Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University

Email: rodion.korablev@gmail.com
ORCID iD: 0009-0004-5754-8437
SPIN-code: 4969-6038

MD, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Pathological Physiology with the Course of Immunopathology

Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg

Anna V. Vasilieva

Saint Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University

Email: a-bondarenko@yandex.ru
ORCID iD: 0009-0008-2356-1552
SPIN-code: 5333-0144

MD, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Pathological Physiology with the Course of Immunopathology

Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg

Adelina M. Maksyuta

Saint Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University

Email: zheludkova.adelina@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-2043-8125

6th year Student of the Pediatric Faculty

Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg

Anastasia R. Avdeeva

Saint Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University

Email: anastas-avdeeva@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0009-0004-3037-4545

6th year Student of the Pediatric Faculty

Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg

Tatiana E. Lebedeva

Saint Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University

Email: aalebedev-iem@rambler.ru
ORCID iD: 0009-0007-5494-6095

Assistant Professor, Department of General and Medical Chemistry named after Prof. V.V. Khorunzhey

Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg

Aleftina A. Kravtsova

Saint Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University

Email: aleftinakravcova@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-0657-3390
SPIN-code: 6762-1182

PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Pathological Physiology with the Course of Immunopathology

Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg

Anastasiya Yu. Bodrova

Institute of Experimental Medicine

Email: nastya.namanchuk.00@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0009-0001-9107-9871

Research Laboratory Assistant, Department of Neuropharmacology named after S.V. Anichkov

Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg

Shuanet A. Ibragimova

Institute of Experimental Medicine

Email: Fatima.ibragimova.1981@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0009-0003-3709-7993

Research Laboratory Assistant, Department of Neuropharmacology named after S.V. Anichkov

Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg

Andrei A. Lebedev

Saint Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University; Saint Petersburg University of Management Technologies and Economics

Email: aalebedev-iem@rambler.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-0297-0425
SPIN-code: 4998-5204

PhD, Dr. Sci. (Pharmacology), Professor, Head of the Laboratory of General Pharmacology, Department of Neuropharmacology named after S.V. Anichkov, Institute of Experimental Medicine

Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg; Saint Petersburg

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2. Fig. 1. Immobility time of animals in the Porsolt test after temporary isolation from the mother during early ontogeny. ***р <0.001, significant differences compared with the control group; immobility time is expressed in seconds; M±m.

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3. Fig. 2. Sucrose preference test. **р <0.01, significant differences compared to the control group; M±m.

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