Modeling Maternal Adversity in Rodents to Study Intergenerational Effects

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Modeling Maternal Adversity in Rodents to Study Intergenerational Effects

Millie Rincon-Cortes, PhD – Assistant Professor, Department of Neuroscience at UT Dallas

Dr. Rincón-Cortés' research reveals how maternal adversity in rats, which we model through resource scarcity, disrupts the brain's reward circuitry, causing reduced maternal motivation and diminished responsiveness to pups, as seen through impaired retrieval behavior and blunted pup reward learning. These behavioral changes correspond with disruptions in the brain's reward circuitry (also known as the mesolimbic dopamine system). Her team has further demonstrated that early life adversity affects reward-related behaviors during adolescence, with affected rats showing reduced responsivity to natural rewards as well as attenuated dopamine activity in the ventral tegmental area- the source of mesolimbic dopamine. This research identifies potential therapeutic targets while deepening understanding of how adversity exposure influences both maternal behavior and offspring development, offering insights into possible interventions for stress-related disorders.

Host: Erin Venza, PhD, CCC-SLP

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