[Effect of chronic stress during pregnancy on the functional state of the hypothalamo-hypophyseo-adrenal system in the progeny].

A study was made of the effect of a chronic stress on the activity of the hypothalamo-hypophyseo-adrenal system in pregnant rats as well as on the development of its function in the progeny in postnatal ontogenesis. Experiments were made on pregnant Wistar rats and their progeny. A chronic stress in the 2nd half of pregnancy has been shown to have a detrimental effect on function of the hypothalamo-hypophyseo-adrenal system not only of pregnant animals but also of their progeny, particularly in early periods of postnatal development. In prenatally stressed animals a delay in the development of the monoaminergic system of the hypothalamus was observed which, in its turn, had an effect on the level of the main adenohypophyseal hormones (ACTH, STH and prolactin).