Exposure to Chronic Mild Stress Differentially Alters Corticotropin‐Releasing Hormone and Arginine Vasopressin mRNA Expression in the Stress‐Responsive Neurocircuitry of Male and Female Rats Prenatally Exposed to Alcohol

Abstract

CMS differentially altered central HPA peptide expression in PAE and PF animals compared to their control counterparts, with a possible shift toward greater CRH mediation of HPA regulation in PAE males, and greater AVP mediation of HPA regulation in PF males. However, changes in CRH and AVP expression do not align fully with the anxiogenic profile observed in our previous behavior study, suggesting that other neuronal substrates and limbic forebrain regions also contribute to increased anxiety-like behavior following CMS.