Hippocampal Plasticity during the Peripartum Period: Influence of Sex Steroids, Stress and Ageing

The peripartum period is accompanied by dramatic changes in hormones and a host of new behaviours in response to experience with offspring. Both maternal experience and maternal hormones can have a significant impact upon the brain and behaviour. This review outlines recent studies demonstrating modifications in hippocampal plasticity across the peripartum period, as well as the putative hormonal mechanisms underlying these changes and their modulation by stress. In addition, the impact of reproductive experience upon the ageing hippocampus is discussed. Finally, we consider how these changes in hippocampal structure may play a role in postpartum cognitive function and mood disorders, as well as age-related cognitive decline.

围产期伴随着激素的巨大变化以及一系列因养育后代的经历而产生的新行为。母性经验和母体激素都会对大脑和行为产生重大影响。这篇综述概述了近期的一些研究，这些研究展示了围产期海马体可塑性的改变，以及这些变化背后可能的激素机制及其受压力的调节作用。此外，还讨论了生育经验对衰老的海马体的影响。最后，我们思考海马体结构的这些变化如何在产后认知功能和情绪障碍以及与年龄相关的认知衰退中发挥作用。