| Literature DB >> 10903573 |
D Liu1, J Diorio, J C Day, D D Francis, M J Meaney.
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.Entities:
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Year: 2000 PMID: 10903573 DOI: 10.1038/77702
Source DB: PubMed Journal: Nat Neurosci ISSN: 1097-6256 Impact factor: 24.884