Maternal care, hippocampal synaptogenesis and cognitive development in rats
Top Cited Papers
- 1 August 2000
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Springer Science and Business Media LLC in Nature Neuroscience
- Vol. 3 (8), 799-806
- https://doi.org/10.1038/77702
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.Keywords
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