The Effect of Maternal Stress Activation on the Offspring during Lactation in Light of Vasopressin

Figure 7

Blood glucose and stress hormone levels in normal and AVP-deficient mothers (𝑁=7-8) and in their offspring (𝑁=18–40; 7–11-day-old) after insulin (intraperitoneal injection of 3NE Actrapid) induced hypoglycemia in fasting (18 h) mothers. (a) The injection significantly diminished the blood glucose levels of mother but not their progeny, independently from the genotype. The ACTH elevations (b) were smaller in AVP-deficient dams without difference in corticosterone (c) rises. There was no increase in ACTH or corticosterone levels in the offspring. AVP-deficient offspring have higher corticosterone levels independently from the mother genotype of the stressor. ^∗𝑃<0.05, ^∗∗𝑃<0.01 versus respective AVP+ group; ^#𝑃<0.05, ^##𝑃<0.01 versus nonstressed control; ⁺⁺𝑃<0.01 versus AVP− control pups from AVP+ mothers.

(a)

(b)

(c)