Prenatal Restraint Stress Generates Two Distinct Behavioral and Neurochemical Profiles in Male and Female Rats
Figure 4
PRS enhances hippocampal BDNF levels in male rats.
(A) Immunoblot analysis showed a 14 kDa band which corresponds to the mature form of BDNF, and a higher molecular weight band (about 35 kDa), which may correspond to its precursor, pro-BDNF. (B) PRS increased the steady-state levels of both BDNF and pro-BDNF in male rats (* p<0.05, ANOVA: F (1,12) = 29.68, F (1,12) = 27.09, respectively,), but had no effect in female rats. Male and female hippocampi were processed separately. Results are expressed as the ratio of the optical density (OD) of the pro-BDNF or BDNF band and the β-actin band. Values are expressed as means±S.E.M. (n = 7 rats per group).