Changes in the vascular area fraction of the hippocampus and amygdala are induced by prenatal dexamethasone and/or adult stress

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Gretchen Neigh, Emory University; Michael J Owens, Emory University; W Robert Taylor, Emory University; Charles B Nemeroff, University of Miami
• Language: English
• Date: 2010-06
• Publisher: SAGE Publications (UK and US)
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: © 2010 Nature Publishing Group
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.crossref.org/10.1038%2Fjcbfm.2010.46
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism
• ISSN: 0271-678X
• Volume: 30
• Issue: 6
• Start Page: 1100
• End Page: 1104
• Keywords: anhedonia; prenatal stress; vascular; angiogenesis; dexamethasone
• Research Categories: Biology, Physiology; Biology, Neuroscience; Psychology, Behavioral

Abstract

In addition to the neuronal and behavioral consequences of excess glucocorticoid exposure, the cerebrovascular system can also be adversely affected by stressors. This study determined that chronic stress in adulthood decreased the vascular area fraction of the hippocampus and increased the vascular area fraction of the amygdala. In addition, the data indicated that prenatal exposure to synthetic glucocorticoids modulated the effects of adult stress on vascular area fraction of the hippocampus and amygdala. These data indicate that in addition to the well-documented stress-induced changes in neurons and glia, cerebral vasculature is also altered by exposure to stressors.