Publications by authors named "Joep Althuizen"
Article Synopsis
- This study investigates how elevated cortisol levels during early embryonic development affect immune functions in zebrafish larvae.
- The researchers exposed fertilized eggs to cortisol and dexamethasone, which revealed that both substances significantly increased the expression of immune-related genes, irrespective of the strain of zebrafish.
- Results indicated that while dexamethasone improved neutrophil recruitment after injury, both cortisol and dexamethasone led to better survival rates and less severe symptoms in the face of immune challenges, suggesting an adaptive immune response potentially linked to maternal stress.
Maternal stress and early life stress affect development. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) are ideally suited to study this, as embryos develop externally into free-feeding larvae. The objective of this study was therefore to assess the effects of increased levels of cortisol, mimicking thereby maternal stress, on larval physiology and behaviour.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF