Teratomorphogenic effects on the brain produced by neonatal maternal deprivation can be partly prevented by pyridostigmine administration.

Maternal deprivation from the 3rd to 14th day of life, i.e., separation of the pups from their mother animals for 16 hours each day, gave rise to persistent significant changes of microstructures in the hippocampal stratum radiatum of the CA1-region, which were associated with significantly decreased emotionality, learning capability and memory capacity in adulthood. Such teratomorphogenic effects on the brain produced by psychosocial and/or nutritional deprivation during brain development could be partly prevented--as well as the teratophysiogenic and teratopsychogenic effects--by simultaneous administration of the acetylcholinesterase inhibitor pyridostigmine.