THE EFFECT OF REPEATED MATERNAL SEPARATION ON GLUCOCORTICOID RECEPTOR AND CYCLOOXYGENASE-2 IN PREWEANLING RAT BRAIN

Objectives：The effects of repeated maternal separation on the expression of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2) in the hippocampus of rat pups at preweanling stage were evaluated. Methods：The experimental, Repeated Maternal Separation group(N=4) was separated from the mother for four hours a day over a period of ten days beginning with postnatal day 4. The Control group(N=4), on the other hand, did not separated from the mother at all. GR and COX-2 expression in the hippocampus was examined by immunohistochemistry on postnatal day 14. Results：It was determined that the number of GR-immunopositive cells in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus was significantly increased in the Repeated Maternal Separation group. The numbers of COX-2-immunopositive cells in the CA1 and CA3 were also significantly higher in the Repeated Maternal Separation group. Conclusion：These results suggest that maternal separation may be a significant developmental stress that induces GR and COX-2 expression in the hippocampus of developing pups.