Effects of prenatal stress on neurons and neuronal ultrastructure of developing hippocampus in rats

AIM:To investigate the effects of prenatal stress (PS) on neurons and neuronal ultrastructure of hippocampus in offspring rats, and to explore the role of the overproduction of oxidants. METHODS:One month male offspring rats were obtained to observe the neuronal number, neuronal ultrastructure and the number of nNOS -positive cell in hippocampus. RESULTS:The neuronal number of CA1 and CA4 subregions in late gestation stress (LS) offspring decreases significantly. The neuronal ultrastructure of CA1 subregion in MS (stress in 7-13 days of gestation) and LS offspring appeared bulgy mitochondria, unclear membrane and irregular electron density. Lipofuscin pigments increased; The number of nNOS-positive cell in CA1, CA2, CA3 subregions and DG of MS group and the whole hippocampus of LS group increased significantly. CONCLUSION:PS damaged the neurons and neuronal ultrastructure of hippocampus of offspring rats. The damages were associated with the overproduction of oxidants.