Early Adulthood Research Articles

Insights into pupal development of Bactrocera dorsalis: factors influencing eclosion.

In the life cycle of the oriental fruit fly where larvae reside within fruits and adults exhibit high activity, the pupal stage occurs in the soil, closely tied to agricultural soil management. This study investigates the impact of four variables (body orientation, burial depth, soil particle size, and pH) on Bactrocera dorsalis' physiological preferences, eclosion rates, and pupal stage duration. Notably, body orientation, burial depth, soil texture (particle size), and pH affect eclosion rates. The fruit fly demonstrates a preference for a supine position during eclosion, with average eclosion rates of 97.33%, contrasting with decreases to 78.00% in a head-down position. Soil with mixed particle sizes is detrimental to pupal eclosion, reducing the eclosion rate to 56.67%. And at a pH of 9.98, eclosion rates decrease to 16.67%. These factors significantly influence eclosion rates However, these factors do not significantly alter the duration of the pupal stage, with mean changes not exceeding one day when experimental conditions are modified. These findings suggests that soil manipulations affecting these variables could reduce eclosion rates without compromising the uniformity of adult emergence. This study provides a foundation for environmentally friendly pest control practices and addresses gaps in the pupal stage research of the oriental fruit fly.

Prenatal exposure to genocide and subsequent adverse childhood events are associated with DNA methylation of SLC6A4, BDNF, and PRDM8 in early adulthood in Rwanda.

We investigated associations between prenatal genocidal trauma, including maternal rape, and postnatal adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on DNA methylation of genes associated with the stress response. In a comparative cross-sectional study of 91 Rwandan young adults, categorized by prenatal exposure to genocide and maternal rape, genocide without rape, and unexposed controls, we analyzed DNA methylation from dried blood spots and assessed ACEs and depression and anxiety symptoms at age 24. Prenatal exposure to maternal rape was associated with DNA methylation changes in BDNF and SLC6A4, with the association in BDNF attenuated after including ACE exposure in the model. Genocide exposure without rape was associated with methylation changes in PRDM8 after adjusting for early adversity. Methylation in BDNF and SLC6A4 correlated with depression and anxiety symptoms. These findings underscore the impact of prenatal and postnatal trauma on DNA methylation and mental wellbeing, emphasizing the need for continued support for survivors in the decades after conflict.

Chronic Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol exposure in adolescent nonhuman primates: persistent abnormalities in economic demand and brain functional connectivity.

Although chronic cannabis use during adolescence can alter brain function and impair complex behavioral processes, it is unclear whether such deficits persist into adulthood. Using a coordinated awake neuroimaging and behavioral approach in nonhuman primates, we addressed this issue by examining the impact of chronic adolescent exposure to Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) on brain functional connectivity and motivational processes during early adulthood. Female and male squirrel monkeys (n = 23) were treated daily for 6 months during adolescence with vehicle or either a low (0.32 mg/kg) or high dose (3.2 mg/kg) of THC. Regional homogeneity and seed-to-whole-brain functional connectivity were analyzed prior to, during, and following discontinuation of chronic treatment to examine changes in regions implicated in reward processing. Subsequently, motivation and reward sensitivity in these subjects, now young adults, were evaluated in economic demand studies by determining the relationship between escalating response requirements and consumption of differing magnitudes of a palatable food reinforcer. Results show that adolescent THC exposure led to persistent alterations in mOFC, caudate, and ventral striatum whole-brain connectivity. Moreover, subjects treated with vehicle during adolescence displayed an orderly and expected inverse relationship between reward magnitude and demand elasticity, whereas THC-treated subjects exhibited dosage-dependent disorder in reward sensitivity and motivational deficits. Changes in neural circuitry (local connectivity in ventral striatum and whole brain connectivity in mOFC) and economic demand were correlated with indices of reward sensitivity in vehicle- but not THC-treated subjects. Taken together, these data indicate that chronic adolescent THC exposure produced long-lasting neurocognitive abnormalities in reward processing.

Faucets and keyboards as a major reservoir of gram-negative bacilli in a regional hospital in Northeast Brazil

Infections related to healthcare assistance represent a major public health problem worldwide, and the main etiological agents associated with these infections are microorganisms also found on inanimate hospital surfaces. Therefore, understanding the dynamics of bacterial contamination of hospital surfaces is essential for professionals working in these services. Objective: To evaluate the contamination of inanimate surfaces by Gram-negative bacilli (GNB) in a Regional Hospital in Northeast Brazil. Methods: This is an observational and cross-sectional study. Samples were collected from different hospital wards using a sterile swab soaked in saline solution. They were then plated on MacConkey agar and incubated at 36°C for 48 hours. The bacterial isolates were counted and identified using the Gram staining method, TSI agar, and oxidase test. Results: Out of the 150 samples collected, 71 showed no microbiological growth, 11 showed growth of filamentous fungi, and 66 showed growth of Colony Forming Units (CFU). A total of 132 morphologically distinct colonies were identified, with 55 identified as yeasts and 77 as GNB. In the evaluation of hospital wards, the Adult Emergency Room and the Orthopedic Surgical Clinic showed the highest growth of GNB. Regarding the surfaces studied, the most contaminated were faucets, computer keyboards, mattresses, and beds. Conclusions: Hospital areas with higher human traffic are the most contaminated, particularly on frequently handled objects. Therefore, it is necessary to focus on disinfecting these surfaces to break the transmission chain of these etiological agents.

ASK HEART GAME CARD DEVELOPMENT TO PROVIDE AN UNDERSTANDING OF MARRIAGE READINESS IN EARLY ADULTHOOD

This research aims to provide an understanding of marriage readiness in early adulthood through the media of the Tanya Hati card game as an effort to fulfill one of the developmental tasks in early adulthood. Apart from that, this research was carried out as a form of optimizing the Guidance and Counseling program through the development of Guidance and Counseling media in the form of game cards. The research method used is “Research and Development” using the ADDIE model (analysis, design, development, implementation and evaluation). Data collection through observation, interviews and questionnaires. The research results show that the Tanya Hati card game media developed is very suitable for use with an average result of 85% from expert assessments. Based on limited trials on 8 students, the heart question card game media obtained a score of 84%. The research results show that the development of the Tanya Hati card game media is valid and effective as a medium that provides an understanding of marriage readiness in early adulthood.

Expansion to new habitats and a new commercial host (Malus domestica) by Anastrepha ludens (Tephritidae) likely influenced by global warming.

Anastrepha ludens (Mexican fruit-fly) is a highly polyphagous fruit fly species (Tephritidae) attacking wild and commercial fruit from Mexico to Panama. Here we report on a recent habitat and host range expansion as A. ludens lately started to attack apples (Malus domestica) in Mexico, a phenomenon likely influenced by global warming. We document natural infestations in apple-growing regions in the States of Nuevo León and Hidalgo, Mexico where A. ludens has started to attack the cultivars 'Golden Delicious', 'Rayada' and 'Criolla'. No infestations were found in the apple-growing region of Zacatlán, Puebla. To determine apple cultivar susceptibility to the attack of this emerging pest, we ran forced infestation assays in enclosed fruit-bearing branches in all three apple-growing regions and studied the metabolome of all fruit. A clear pattern emerged indicating that the cultivar 'Golden Delicious' was the most susceptible, with 'Criolla' exhibiting complete resistance in one location (Puebla). Although A. ludens can develop in this new host, development rates (egg-adult) and adult emergence were affected when compared with the performance in the natural host 'Marsh' grapefruit. Warmer temperatures and specific secondary metabolites of some apple cultivars are likely contributing to the territorial and host expansion of A. ludens.

Psychological Pathways from Adverse Childhood Experiences to Cigarette, Marijuana, and Excessive Alcohol Use in Early Middle Adulthood: A Longitudinal Examination

Psychological Pathways from Adverse Childhood Experiences to Cigarette, Marijuana, and Excessive Alcohol Use in Early Middle Adulthood: A Longitudinal Examination

Abstract 4136996: Co-morbid Insomnia and Obstructive Sleep Apnea (COMISA) are Related to Incident Hypertension in a 20-Year Retrospective Cohort Study of 1.3 million Younger Men and Women Veterans: Associations by Sex

Introduction: Insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) each increase risk for hypertension (HTN). Among older adults, there is a negative synergistic association of comorbid insomnia and OSA (i.e., COMISA) on incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) but it is unknown if this comorbidity is associated with HTN risk earlier in the lifespan. Research Questions: 1) Is COMISA associated with incident HTN among younger adults? 2) Do COMISA-HTN associations differ by sex? Hypotheses: We hypothesized that 1) COMISA would be associated with a greater risk of HTN than having no sleep disorder, 2) the hazard would be larger than for insomnia and OSA alone, and 3) distinct COMISA-HTN associations would be observed among men and women, respectively. Methods: Analyses included Veterans who enrolled in Veterans Health Administration (VA) care 2001-2021, a group selected because of its early adult age distribution. We merged administrative data, including outpatient and inpatient encounters, diagnoses, (ICD-9-CM/10 codes/dates) and pharmacy records. Veterans without demographic data, a history of other sleep disorders or CVD, or <2 clinical encounters were excluded. Sleep disorders were defined by 1 inpatient or ≥2 outpatient encounters. HTN was defined by 1 inpatient or ≥2 outpatient encounters and/or ≥1 antihypertensive medication fill. Time-varying Cox proportional hazard models were adjusted for sociodemographic, behavioral/lifestyle, and clinical factors, and stratified analyses by sex. We used multiple imputation to address missing data. Results: Analyses included 1,293,165 Veterans (12% women; mean age 32.8) with an average follow-up of 7.6 years. Men with COMISA showed a 19% greater risk of HTN vs. no sleep diagnosis (95% CL: 1.17-1.20). Risks were slightly lower – but still significant – for men with only insomnia (HR:1.08 [95% CL: 1.06-1.09]) or only OSA (HR:1.15 [95% CL: 1.13-1.16]). Women with COMISA had a 21% greater risk of HTN vs. those without a sleep diagnosis (95% CL: 1.16-1.26), and those with insomnia (HR:1.15 [95% CL: 1.11-1.19]) or OSA (HR:1.13 [95% CL: 1.09-1.17]) showed a lower, though still significant risk. Conclusion: In this younger group, Veterans with COMISA had a 19-21% greater risk of HTN than without a disorder, and this risk was similar by sex and slightly higher than that attributable to insomnia or OSA alone. Increased identification of disordered sleep among younger adults should be a cardiovascular prevention priority.

Influence of Inert Minerals and Botanicals on Adult Emergence of Pulse Beetle, Callosobruchus maculatus (Fabricius), in Stored Blackgram

Background: Pulses hold significant global importance as a food source, with the pulse beetle, Callosobruchus maculatus, being a major pest affecting them. As consumer preferences shift towards insecticide residue-free food, pest management strategies are adapting. Inert minerals and botanicals offer a promising solution to address concerns about insecticide safety, resistance development, and regulatory standards. Hence, this study seeks to assess how these substances impact the emergence of C. maculatus adults. Methods: One kilogram of blackgram was taken in three replications and treated with inert minerals and botanicals. In each container, ten pairs of newly emerged adult beetles were introduced. A subsample of 50 g was taken in small plastic jars to record, the day when the first adult beetle emerged, the daily count of adult beetles, and the overall count of emerged adult beetles. Result: The research showed no significant difference between treatments and untreated control w.r.t day of first adult emergence of C. maculatus. The percentage of adult emergence of C. maculatus in blackgram seeds treated with diatomaceous earth was 21.06% which was significantly the lowest value when compared to untreated control (86.03%). The total count of emerged adult beetles from the main sample was less in diatomaceous earth (135.33 adults) against untreated control (751.67 adults). Among all the treatments tested, diatomaceous earth performed better in controlling the adult emergence of C. maculatus.

Personality trait change during adolescence as a predictor of later substance use, depressive symptoms, and perceived maturity

Adolescence is considered a critical period for understanding how individuals develop their self-concepts and personality dispositions, with the assumption that these changes presage important life outcomes. However, this tenet has been infrequently tested; few studies have included rigorous, frequent assessment of personality traits during adolescence, particularly from multiple rater perspectives. The current study utilizes data from the Oregon Youth Substance Use Project (OYSUP; N = 951), which followed students throughout their school years into early adulthood. Student- and teacher-reports of the Big Five personality traits were assessed yearly from grades 7 to 10, as well as drug use, well-being, and maturity outcomes later in emerging adulthood. Using latent growth curve models and true intraindividual change score models, results indicated that youth exhibited relative stability but significant trait changes on multiple domains during adolescence. Moreover, individual differences in these changes predicted likelihood for drug use and depressive symptoms later, as well as the students’ perceptions of their status as being developed adults, even when accounting for initial trait levels. Findings differed somewhat between youth- and teacher-reports of personality, with both demonstrating value for predicting young adult outcomes, indicating multiple perspectives of personality development are important.

Phytochemical composition and insecticidal activity of Acokanthera oblongifolia (Hochst.) Benth & Hook.f. ex B.D.Jacks. extract on life span and biological aspects of Spodoptera littoralis (Biosd.)

Abstract Plant extracts with insecticidal properties are promising alternatives to conventional insecticides, which may pose risks to human health and the environment in pest management. In the current study, the methanolic extract of Acokanthera oblongifolia (Hochst.) Benth & Hook.f. ex B.D.Jacks. was characterized using high-performance liquid and gas-mass spectrometry chromatography. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis identified 14 polyphenols, the highest of which is chlorogenic acid (65637.79 µg/g), followed by naringenin and pyrocatechol at 2022.98 and 1509.11 µg/g, respectively. However, quercetin, gallic acid, ferulic acid, rutin, and kaempferol showed moderate quantities. The gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis identified the major polysaccharide, inositol (15.52%), followed by squalene and triterpene (11.02%) out of 35 polysaccharides. The major fatty acids, 11-octadecenoic acid, methyl ester, and methyl 9-cis, 11-trans-octadecadienoate, were 9.06 and 6.30%, respectively. The crude extract and chlorfluazuron 5% EC at LC15 were evaluated for the life table and biological aspects of S. littoralis (Boisd.) neonates after 48 h under laboratory conditions compared to the control. The toxicity of the LC15 at 48 h of chlorfluazuron 5% EC (0.31 mg/L) excelled the extract (178.95 mg/L) on the neonates. Life span tests showed that the larval longevity of the extract and chlorfluazuron colonies were 27.34 and 30 days, respectively. The control colony completed its life span at 38.66 days, whereas the extract colony ended at the pupae stage at 33.67 days. Biological aspects showed that the tested compounds decreased pupation percentages and weight. Pupae malformations caused by the extract (80.56%) outperformed chlorfluazuron (33.33%). The adult emergency decreased by the extract (0.33%), and no emergency was observed in chlorfluazuron colony. Ultimately, A. oblongifolia extract demonstrated significant life table elongations and developmental impairment, which may suggest potential and eco-friendly use for its prospective commercial preparations in controlling S. littoralis alternatively to chlorfluazuron 5% EC.

Case report: Polymorphous low-grade neuroepithelial tumor of the young and supratentorial ependymoma diagnosed in an adult male

Polymorphous low-grade neuroepithelial tumor of the young (PLNTY) is a rare central nervous system (CNS) pathology predominantly observed in the pediatric population. Ependymomas also exhibit a peak incidence in early childhood, with rare presentations after early adulthood. In this report, we describe a rare case of a 41-year-old man diagnosed sequentially with a polymorphous low-grade neuroepithelial tumor of the young, followed by a supratentorial ependymoma within a year. He underwent tumor resection for both tumors, as well as adjuvant radiation therapy for the ependymoma. Despite these interventions, he ultimately succumbed to tumor progression and postoperative complications. Currently, no genetic syndromes are known to link these two primary CNS tumors. Two commonalities at the chromosomal and cellular level include histone gene H3F3A mutations and positive glial fibrillary acidic protein staining on immunohistochemistry. To the best of our knowledge, this unique dual pathology has not been previously described in the literature, making this case an avenue for further investigation and research into connections between these two distinct CNS pathologies.

Prosocial Behavior of College Students: A Self-determination Perspective

Students’ prosocial behavior refers to self-determination motivation with the aim of helping others and a caring attitude. The purpose of this research study is to explore the role of college students’ prosocial behavior in terms of self-determination. The age of college students is in the early adulthood category. The research approach in this study is to use a qualitative approach with literature study techniques. The result of this study is that the role of students’ prosocial behavior in terms of self-determination is the existence of students’ autonomous interest and motivation to behave prosocially in real terms. Autonomous prosocial motivation is manifested as the regulation of prosocial behavior determined by the individual himself, the interest and pleasure to help others without coercion from others. However, individuals who are motivated to be prosocial because they want to avoid guilt and shame may cause individuals to experience more negative emotions. This study implies that the role of autonomous motivation as part of self-determination theory becomes strong evidence in individuals achieving desired goals, and specifically also evidence of individuals performing highly prosocial behavior. Keywords: college students, prosocial behavior, self-determination

''There is a Rainbow After The Rain'': The Role of Hope in Increasing Resilience Among Students of Universitas Negeri Malang

Students as individuals who are at the transition stage from late adolescence to early adulthood, also face various challenges, such as academic challenges, adapting to a new environment, and new responsibilities as a growing adult. This affects psychological conditions and makes students vulnerable to mental health problems. To face these various challenges, students need to have the skills and coping strategies for these various challenges. This term is known as resilience. Various studies show that resilience is related to positive outcomes for students. Various factors have been researched to increase resilience in students. Hope is one of the protective factors of resilience. Therefore, researchers are interested in seeing the role of hope in increasing resilience among students at Universitas Negeri Malang. The method used is quantitative, with hypothesis testing using simple linear regression. This research was conducted on 85 students of Universitas Negeri Malang (Male = 26; Female = 59). The research results show that there is a significant contribution from hope to student resilience, which is 27.7%. This research highlights the importance of students developing goals in their lives. The goals that they have will foster hope, by having the hope that students will be able to face difficult situations, and become more resilient and adaptive. Keywords: Keywords: hope, resilience, students

Civic Participation in Early Adulthood and Midlife Well-being in an Inner City Cohort

Civic Participation in Early Adulthood and Midlife Well-being in an Inner City Cohort

The Influences of Childhood Trauma and Parenting Styles on The Bipolar Disorder of Teenagers

After Covid-19, more and more students were reported to commit suicide, which shows that the mental health problems have become normal phenomenons in the adolescents. It has attracted more and more attentions of parents and teachers. Among all the mental health problems, bipolar disorder has been a common and serious problem in the teenagers. Bipolar disorder is a chronic and complex disorder which is partly diagnosed in the adolescence and early adulthood. The leading causes of bipolar disorder mainly focused on genetics and environment. This paper aims to explore the influences of two aspects, childhood trauma and parenting styles on the bipolar disorder of adolescents. In this paper, some retrospective literature was reviewed again. The results show that the incidents of childhood trauma are frequent and severe in bipolar disorder. In the five subscales, emotional abuse, emotional neglect are the main two subscales which have much influence on the morbidity of bipolar disorder. Besides, compared with the control group, the different parenting styles may have different influence on children. severe punishment, emotional care and understanding,over control and protection of fathers, and the severe punishment, emotional care and understanding, preference of subjects and denial and rejection chosen by mothers may be the influential factors of the teenagers with bipolar disorder. Therefore, childhood trauma should be avoided or decreased as much as possible. Besides, parents are supposed to create a more caring and tolerable environment full of love for their children.

Carry-over effects of Bacillus thuringiensis on tolerant Aedes albopictus mosquitoes

BackgroundThe biological larvicide Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis (Bti) represents a safe and effective alternative to chemical insecticides for mosquito control. Efficient control of mosquitoes implicates continuous and extensive application of Bti. This massive use of Bti imposes strong selective pressure, but the complex mode of action of the numerous synergistic Bti endotoxins lower the risk of the emergence of resistance. Although resistance to Bti has not been identified at the population level in nature, some larvae can survive Bti exposure, suggesting tolerance mechanisms. Here we investigated whether Bti-tolerant Aedes albopictus larvae experience any fitness costs. We also studied how this tolerance affects different aspects of the phenotype of the emerging adults that could be relevant for arboviral transmission.MethodsWe exposed Ae. albopictus larvae to lethal concentration of Bti and studied the fitness and gut microbiota of tolerant larvae and their adult counterparts. We further compared the transcript abundance of nine key immunity genes in the gut of Bti-tolerant larvae and their emerging adults versus those not exposed to Bti.ResultsOur results showed that Bti exposure has multifaceted impacts on Ae. albopictus mosquitoes during both larval and adult stages. The carry-over effect of Bti exposure on tolerant larvae manifested in reduced adult emergence rate, shorter lifespan, and decreased fecundity. Bti also alters the gut microbiota of both larvae and adults. We observed higher microbial diversity in Bti-tolerant larvae and changes in the richness of core microbiota. Bti infection and the altered microbiota triggered immune responses in the larval and adult guts.ConclusionsThe observed reduction in mosquito fitness and changes in the composition of the microbiota of adults emerging from tolerant larvae could negatively influence mosquito vectorial capacity. Understanding these impacts is crucial for evaluating the broader implications of Bti-based insecticides in mosquito control programs.Graphical

Experimental arboviral infection of mosquito larvae: A novel approach for vector competence studies

Vector competence studies in mosquitoes present valuable opportunities to explore arboviral transmission and virus-vector interactions. However, oral infection studies in mosquitoes can be challenging. An alternative approach is to infect mosquitoes during their aquatic larval stage, resulting in the emergence of infected adults. To investigate the potential of this method, Culex pipiens biotype molestus larvae were infected with Usutu virus (USUV, Orthoflavivirus usutuense). For this purpose, larvae were exposed to USUV-infected mammalian and mosquito cell cultures for 24 h before being reared to adults. Subsequent analysis via RT-qPCR revealed that the Culex larvae successfully acquired USUV from the infected cells and exhibited high susceptibility to infection. Immediately after emergence, 32.10 % (26/81) of male and 41.03 % (16/39) of female mosquitoes tested positive for USUV RNA. Notably, females that were incubated for 15 days post-emergence demonstrated even higher infection rates, reaching 100.00 % (23/23). In addition, viral RNA and infectious particles were detected in some saliva samples, indicating the potential for transmission. This experimental infection of mosquito larvae thus offers the opportunity to produce infected adult mosquitoes for studies enhancing our understanding of virus-vector interactions, co-infections, and transmission routes. Such research contributes to better public health strategies addressing arboviral diseases.

Association between preterm birth and economic and educational outcomes in adulthood: A population-based matched cohort study.

Preterm birth (PTB) affects ~10% of births worldwide; however, most literature focused on short-term clinical outcomes, with much less focus on long-term socioeconomic outcomes after PTB. We examined associations between PTB and individuals' income, employment, and educational outcomes during early adulthood. We conducted a population-level matched cohort study including all live births in Canada between 1990 and 1996, followed until 2018. Outcomes included Employment income per year in 2018 CAD and employment between ages 18 and 28 years, postsecondary education enrollment (18-22 years), and maximum educational attainment at age 22-27 years. Mean differences and risk ratios (RR) and differences (RD) were estimated using generalized estimating equation regression models for economic outcomes and multinomial logistic regression models for educational outcomes. Of 2.4 million births, 7% were born preterm (0.3%, 0.6%, 0.8%, and 5.4% born extremely preterm (24-27 weeks), very preterm (28-31 weeks), moderately preterm (32-33 weeks), and late preterm (34-36 weeks) respectively). After matching on baseline characteristics (e.g., sex, province of birth, and parental demographics) and adjusting for age and period effects, preterm-born individuals, on average, had $958 CAD less employment income per year (95% CI: $854-$1062), 6% lower income per year, than term-born individuals, and were 2.13% less likely to be employed (1.98-2.29%). PTB was also negatively associated with university enrollment (RR 0.93 (0.91-0.94) and graduation with a university degree (RR 0.95 (0.94-0.97)). Mean income differences for those born 24-27 weeks were -$5,463 CAD per year (17% lower), and adjusted RR were 0.55 for university enrollment and graduation. In this population-based study, preterm birth was associated with lower economic and educational achievements at least until the late twenties. The associations were stronger with decreasing GA at birth. Policymakers, clinicians, and parents should be aware that the socioeconomic impact of PTB is not limited to the early neonatal period but extends into adulthood.

S-ketamine alleviates depression-like behavior and hippocampal neuroplasticity in the offspring of mice that experience prenatal stress

Prenatal stress exerts long-term impact on neurodevelopment in the offspring, with consequences such as increasing the offspring’s risk of depression in adolescence and early adulthood. S-ketamine can produce rapid and robust antidepressant effects, but it is not clear yet whether and how S-ketamine alleviates depression in prenatally stressed offspring. The current study incestigated the preliminary anti-depression mechanism of S-ketamine in prenatally stressed offspring, particularly with regard to neuroplasticity. The pregnant females were given chronic unpredictable mild stress on the 7th-20th day of pregnancy and their male offspring were intraperitoneally injected with a single dose of S-ketamine (10 mg/kg) on postnatal day 42. Our findings showed that S-ketamine treatment counteracted the development of depression-like behaviors in prenatally stressed offspring. At the cellular level, S-ketamine markedly enhanced neuroplasticity in the CA1 hippocampus: Golgi-Cox staining showed that S-ketamine alleviated the reduction of neuronal complexity and dendritic spine density; Transmission electron microscopy indicated that S-ketamine reversed synaptic morphology alterations. At the molecular level, by western blot and RT-PCR we detected that S-ketamine significantly upregulated the expression of BDNF and PSD95 and activated AKT and mTOR in the hippocampus. In conclusion, prenatal stress induced by chronic unpredictable mild stress leads to depressive-like behaviors and hippocampal neuroplasticity impairments in male offspring. S-ketamine can produce antidepressant effects by enhancing hippocampal neuroplasticity via the BDNF/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.