Enriched Early Life Experiences Reduce Adult Anxiety-Like Behavior in Rats: A Role for Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1

• DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.3541-12.2013
• Publication Date: 2013-07-10T16:26:06Z
• Authors: S. Baldini; L. Restani; L. Baroncelli; M. Coltelli; R. Franco; M. C. Cenni; L. Maffei; N. Berardi
• Keywords: Environmental Enrichment; Stressor; Elevated plus maze; Corticosterone

Early life experiences can affect brain development, contributing to shape interindividual differences in stress vulnerability and anxiety-like behavior. In rodents, high levels of maternal care have long-lasting positive effects on the behavior offspring response; post-weaning rearing an enriched environment (EE) or massage counteract negative separation prenatal stressors. We recently found that insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) is a key mediator early EE development. Whether enrichment experience induce whether IGF-1 involved these not known. assessed by means elevated plus maze control adult rats subjected massage. both reduced systemic injections rat pups reared standard condition mimic massage, reducing adult; blocking action massaged animals prevents effects. IGF-1-treated animals, we hippocampal expression glucocorticoid receptors (GRs) at postnatal day 12 (P12) P60, finding significantly higher GR P60 for treatments. These results suggest could be mediating vulnerability/resilience adults.