Influence of chronic stress before and/or during gestation on pregnancy outcome of young and old Uje: WIST rats.

Young (70-120 d) and old (11-13 month) Uje:WIST rats were exposed to the strong stressor "chronic restraint" before and/or during gestation. Most adverse effects on pregnancy outcome were induced in young dams stressed before and during gestation (prolonged duration of pregnancy, lower body mass of the newborn pups). In old dams chronic restraint did not further deteriorate the age-dependent poor reproductive performance, but even rejuvenated it, if stress exposure was limited to the premating period.