Attenuation effects of prenatal stress by early postnatal stimulation in different research models

Abstract

Prenatal stress alters the pattern of corticoid secretion and affects transplacentally the fetus hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) in different animal models. Early postnatal stimulation or handling results in an increase in maternal care to the offspring what reverts the effects of prenatal stress on the alterations produced in the HPA axis. In this revision article we describe and discuss the underlying mechanism present and discuss the mechanisms leading to causing imbalance produced by prenatal stress and how it is related to immune system disorders. The general effects that postnatal early stimulation have on the parameters altered by prenatal stress and the attenuation produced on prenatal stress immune system negative effects will also be discussed.