Prenatal Stress and Sexual Differentiation of Monoaminergic Brain Systems

This review considers published data and results of the authors' studies of prenatal (maternal) stress-induced disturbances in the sexual differentiation of monoaminergic systems in sexually dimorphic brain regions. The significant role of glucocorticoid hormones as crucial humoral factors mediating the above effects of prenatal stress is emphasized. The involvement of enzymes, providing synthesis and metabolic transformations of biogenic monoamines in the brain, in modifications of the prenatal stress-related hormonal/transmitter imprinting of the developing brain is discussed in particular.