Reduced maternal behavior caused by gestational stress is predictive of life span changes in risk-taking behavior and gene expression due to altering of the stress/anti-stress balance
Exposure of the mother to adverse events during pregnancy is known to induce pathological programming of the HPA axis in the progeny, thereby increasing the vulnerability to neurobehavioral disorders. Maternal care plays a crucial role in the programming of the offspring, and oxytocin plays a key role in mother/pup interaction.