Abstract
Early life events can modulate brain development to produce persistent physiological and behavioural phenotypes that are transmissible across generations. However, whether neural precursor cells are altered by early life events, to produce persistent and transmissible behavioural changes, is unknown. Here, we show that bi-parental care, in early life, increases neural cell genesis in the adult rodent brain in a sexually dimorphic manner. Bi-parentally raised male mice display enhanced adult dentate gyrus neurogenesis, which improves hippocampal neurogenesis-dependent learning and memory. Female mice display enhanced adult white matter oligodendrocyte production, which increases proficiency in bilateral motor coordination and preference for social investigation. Surprisingly, single parent-raised male and female offspring, whose fathers and mothers received bi-parental care, respectively, display a similar enhancement in adult neural cell genesis and phenotypic behaviour. Therefore, neural plasticity and behavioural effects due to bi-parental care persist throughout life and are transmitted to the next generation.
Highlights
Life experiences have a profound effect on brain development, emotionality, and social behaviours throughout life [1,2]
Our study shows that bi-parental care enhances adult neural cell genesis in a sexually dimorphic manner, which gives rise to specific behavioural phenotypes
Previous studies have shown that adult male dentate gyrus neurogenesis is reduced as a result of maternal separation [23]
Summary
Life experiences have a profound effect on brain development, emotionality, and social behaviours throughout life [1,2]. Enriched early life experiences, such as increased maternal care [4] or communal nesting [1], tend to decrease stress and emotional reactivity, as well as provide enhanced cognitive benefits. Neonatal exposure to novelty improves social recognition and spatial memory in adulthood [6,7]. Such enriched early life experiences can have differential effects in males and females [8,9]. The effect double-mothering has on hippocampal plasticity and function in adult females is unknown [15]. Little is known as to whether enriched early life environments give rise to sexual dimorphic brain plasticity and behavioural outcomes
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