Encéphale, Encephalon, Encéfalo, Mammalia, Pathologie de l'appareil respiratoire, Respiratory disease, Aparato respiratorio patología, Rodentia, Système nerveux central, Central nervous system, Sistema nervioso central, Trouble anxieux, Anxiety disorder, Trastorno ansiedad, Trouble de l'humeur, Mood disorder, Trastorno humor, Vertebrata, Animal, Article synthèse, Review, Artículo síntesis, Dioxyde de carbone, Carbon dioxide, Carbono dióxido, Etat dépressif, Depression, Estado depresivo, Hypercapnie, Hypercapnia, Hipercapnia, Hypoxie, Hypoxia, Hipoxia, Oxygène, Oxygen, Oxígeno, Panique, Panic, Pánico, Rat, Rata, Stress, Estrés, Substance grise périaqueducale, Periaqueductal gray matter, Substancia gris periacueductal, Substance grise, Grey matter, Substancia gris, Système hypothalamohypophysosurrénalien, Hypothalamohypophysoadrenal axis, Sistema hipotalamohipofisosuprarrenal, Hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis, Periaqueductal grey matter, Suffocation, Sciences biologiques et medicales, Biological and medical sciences, Sciences biologiques fondamentales et appliquees. Psychologie, Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology, Psychologie. Psychophysiologie, Psychology. Psychophysiology, Psychophysiologie du comportement, Behavioral psychophysiology, Sciences medicales, Medical sciences, Pneumologie, Pneumology, Appareil respiratoire : syndromes et maladies diverses, Respiratory system : syndromes and miscellaneous diseases, Psychopathologie. Psychiatrie, Psychopathology. Psychiatry, Etude clinique de l'adulte et de l'adolescent, Adult and adolescent clinical studies, Troubles de l'humeur, Mood disorders, Troubles anxieux. Névroses, Anxiety disorders. Neuroses, Trouble panique, Panic disorder, Psychologie. Psychanalyse. Psychiatrie, Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry, PSYCHOPATHOLOGIE. PSYCHIATRIE, Cognition, Neurology, Neurologie, Psychophysiology, and Psychophysiologie

Luiz Carlos Schenberg, Fagna Giacomin Schimitel, Rubia de Souza Armini, Cristian Setubal Bernabé, Caroline Azevedo Rosa, Sérgio Tufik, Claudia Janaina Torres Müller, Jeyce Willig Quintino-dos-Santos. Translational Approach to Studying Panic Disorder in Rats: Hits and Misses. Neurosci. Biobehav. Rev. XX (X) XXX-XXX, 2014. Panic disorder (PD) patients are specifically sensitive to 5-7% carbon dioxide. Another startling feature of clinical panic is the counterintuitive lack of increments in 'stress hormones'. PD is also more frequent in women and highly comorbid with childhood separation anxiety (CSA). On the other hand, increasing evidence suggests that panic is mediated at dorsal periaqueductal grey matter (DPAG). In line with prior studies showing that DPAG-evoked panic-like behaviours are attenuated by clinically-effective treatments with panicolytics, we show here that (i) the DPAG harbors a hypoxia-sensitive alarm system, which is activated by hypoxia and potentiated by hypercapnia, (ii) the DPAG suffocation alarm system is inhibited by clinically-effective treatments with panicolytics, (iii) DPAG stimulations do not increase stress hormones in the absence of physical exertion, (iv) DPAG-evoked panic-like behaviours are facilitated in neonatally-isolated adult rats, a model of CSA, and (v) DPAG-evoked responses are enhanced in the late diestrus of female rats. Data are consistent with the DPAG mediation of both respiratory and non-respiratory types of panic attacks.

Cognition, Neurology, Neurologie, Psychophysiology, Psychophysiologie, Sciences biologiques et medicales, Biological and medical sciences, Sciences biologiques fondamentales et appliquees. Psychologie, Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology, Psychologie. Psychophysiologie, Psychology. Psychophysiology, Psychophysiologie du comportement, Behavioral psychophysiology, Sciences medicales, Medical sciences, Pneumologie, Pneumology, Appareil respiratoire : syndromes et maladies diverses, Respiratory system : syndromes and miscellaneous diseases, Psychopathologie. Psychiatrie, Psychopathology. Psychiatry, Etude clinique de l'adulte et de l'adolescent, Adult and adolescent clinical studies, Troubles de l'humeur, Mood disorders, Etat dépressif, Depression, Troubles anxieux. Névroses, Anxiety disorders. Neuroses, Trouble panique, Panic disorder, Psychologie. Psychanalyse. Psychiatrie, Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry, PSYCHOPATHOLOGIE. PSYCHIATRIE, Encéphale, Encephalon, Encéfalo, Mammalia, Pathologie de l'appareil respiratoire, Respiratory disease, Aparato respiratorio patología, Rodentia, Système nerveux central, Central nervous system, Sistema nervioso central, Trouble anxieux, Anxiety disorder, Trastorno ansiedad, Trouble de l'humeur, Mood disorder, Trastorno humor, Vertebrata, Animal, Article synthèse, Review, Artículo síntesis, Dioxyde de carbone, Carbon dioxide, Carbono dióxido, Etat dépressif, Depression, Estado depresivo, Hypercapnie, Hypercapnia, Hipercapnia, Hypoxie, Hypoxia, Hipoxia, Oxygène, Oxygen, Oxígeno, Panique, Panic, Pánico, Rat, Rata, Stress, Estrés, Substance grise périaqueducale, Periaqueductal gray matter, Substancia gris periacueductal, Substance grise, Grey matter, Substancia gris, Système hypothalamohypophysosurrénalien, Hypothalamohypophysoadrenal axis, Sistema hipotalamohipofisosuprarrenal, Hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis, Periaqueductal grey matter, and Suffocation

Luiz Carlos Schenberg, Fagna Giacomin Schimitel, Rubia de Souza Armini, Cristian Setubal Bernabé, Caroline Azevedo Rosa, Sérgio Tufik, Claudia Janaina Torres Müller, Jeyce Willig Quintino-dos-Santos. Translational Approach to Studying Panic Disorder in Rats: Hits and Misses. Neurosci. Biobehav. Rev. XX (X) XXX-XXX, 2014. Panic disorder (PD) patients are specifically sensitive to 5-7% carbon dioxide. Another startling feature of clinical panic is the counterintuitive lack of increments in 'stress hormones'. PD is also more frequent in women and highly comorbid with childhood separation anxiety (CSA). On the other hand, increasing evidence suggests that panic is mediated at dorsal periaqueductal grey matter (DPAG). In line with prior studies showing that DPAG-evoked panic-like behaviours are attenuated by clinically-effective treatments with panicolytics, we show here that (i) the DPAG harbors a hypoxia-sensitive alarm system, which is activated by hypoxia and potentiated by hypercapnia, (ii) the DPAG suffocation alarm system is inhibited by clinically-effective treatments with panicolytics, (iii) DPAG stimulations do not increase stress hormones in the absence of physical exertion, (iv) DPAG-evoked panic-like behaviours are facilitated in neonatally-isolated adult rats, a model of CSA, and (v) DPAG-evoked responses are enhanced in the late diestrus of female rats. Data are consistent with the DPAG mediation of both respiratory and non-respiratory types of panic attacks.

Affect affectivité, Affect affectivity, Afecto afectividad, Facteur libération hormonale, Hormone releasing factor, Factor liberación hormonal, Hormone hypothalamique, Hypothalamic hormone, Hormona hipotalámica, Mammalia, Pathologie de l'appareil circulatoire, Cardiovascular disease, Aparato circulatorio patología, Rodentia, Trouble de l'humeur, Mood disorder, Trastorno humor, Trouble de l'équilibre hydroélectrolytique, Hydroelectrolytic balance disorder, Trastorno equilibrio hidroelectrolítico, Trouble métabolique, Metabolic disorder, Trastorno metabolismo, Vertebrata, Activation, Activación, Aigu, Acute, Agudo, Angoisse anxiété, Anxiety, Angustia ansiedad, Animal, CRF, Corticotropin releasing factor, HACT-RH, Elément minéral, Inorganic element, Elemento inorgánico, Etat dépressif, Depression, Estado depresivo, Hypernatrémie, Hypernatremia, Hipernatremia, Hypertension artérielle, Hypertension, Hipertensión arterial, Mâle, Male, Macho, Ocytocine, Oxytocin, Ocitocina, Sodium, Sodio, Souris, Mouse, Ratón, Stress, Estrés, Système hypothalamohypophysosurrénalien, Hypothalamohypophysoadrenal axis, Sistema hipotalamohipofisosuprarrenal, Corticotropin-releasing-hormone, Hypematremia, Sciences biologiques et medicales, Biological and medical sciences, Sciences biologiques fondamentales et appliquees. Psychologie, Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology, Psychologie. Psychophysiologie, Psychology. Psychophysiology, Psychophysiologie du comportement, Behavioral psychophysiology, Sciences medicales, Medical sciences, Cardiologie. Appareil circulatoire, Cardiology. Vascular system, Vaisseaux sanguins et lymphatiques, Blood and lymphatic vessels, Hypertension artérielle. Hypotension artérielle, Arterial hypertension. Arterial hypotension, Psychopathologie. Psychiatrie, Psychopathology. Psychiatry, Etude clinique de l'adulte et de l'adolescent, Adult and adolescent clinical studies, Troubles de l'humeur, Mood disorders, Divers, Miscellaneous, Psychologie. Psychanalyse. Psychiatrie, Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry, PSYCHOPATHOLOGIE. PSYCHIATRIE, Cognition, Physiology, morphology, Physiologie, morphologie, Psychophysiology, and Psychophysiologie

Previous investigation by our laboratory found that acute hypernatremia potentiates an oxytocinergic tone that inhibits parvocellular neurosecretory neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN), attenuates restraint-induced surges in corticosterone (CORT), and reduces anxiety-like behavior in male rats. To investigate the neural mechanisms mediating these effects and extend our findings to a more versatile species, we repeated our studies using laboratory mice. In response to 2.0 M NaCl injections, mice had increased plasma sodium concentrations which were associated with a blunted rise in CORT subsequent to restraint challenge relative to 0.15 M NaCl injected controls. Immunofluorescent identification of the immediate early gene product Fos found that 2.0 M NaCl treatment increased the number of activated neurons producing oxytocin in the PVN. To evaluate the effect of acute hypernatremia on PVN neurons producing corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), we used the Cre-lox system to generate mice that produced the red fluorescent protein, tdTomato, in cells that had Cre-recombinase activity driven by CRH gene expression. Analysis of brain tissue from these CRH-reporter mice revealed that 2.0 M NaCl treatment caused a dramatic reduction in Fos-positive nuclei specifically in CRH-producing PVN neurons. This altered pattern of activity was predictive of alleviated anxiety-like behavior as mice administered 2.0 M NaCl spent more time exploring the open arms of an elevated-plus maze than 0.15 M NaCl treated controls. Taken together, these results further implicate an oxytocin-dependent inhibition of CRH neurons in the PVN and demonstrate the impact that slight elevations in plasma sodium have on hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis output and anxiety-like behavior.

Cognition, Physiology, morphology, Physiologie, morphologie, Psychophysiology, Psychophysiologie, Sciences biologiques et medicales, Biological and medical sciences, Sciences biologiques fondamentales et appliquees. Psychologie, Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology, Psychologie. Psychophysiologie, Psychology. Psychophysiology, Psychophysiologie du comportement, Behavioral psychophysiology, Sciences medicales, Medical sciences, Cardiologie. Appareil circulatoire, Cardiology. Vascular system, Vaisseaux sanguins et lymphatiques, Blood and lymphatic vessels, Hypertension artérielle. Hypotension artérielle, Arterial hypertension. Arterial hypotension, Psychopathologie. Psychiatrie, Psychopathology. Psychiatry, Etude clinique de l'adulte et de l'adolescent, Adult and adolescent clinical studies, Troubles de l'humeur, Mood disorders, Etat dépressif, Depression, Divers, Miscellaneous, Psychologie. Psychanalyse. Psychiatrie, Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry, PSYCHOPATHOLOGIE. PSYCHIATRIE, Affect affectivité, Affect affectivity, Afecto afectividad, Facteur libération hormonale, Hormone releasing factor, Factor liberación hormonal, Hormone hypothalamique, Hypothalamic hormone, Hormona hipotalámica, Mammalia, Pathologie de l'appareil circulatoire, Cardiovascular disease, Aparato circulatorio patología, Rodentia, Trouble de l'humeur, Mood disorder, Trastorno humor, Trouble de l'équilibre hydroélectrolytique, Hydroelectrolytic balance disorder, Trastorno equilibrio hidroelectrolítico, Trouble métabolique, Metabolic disorder, Trastorno metabolismo, Vertebrata, Activation, Activación, Aigu, Acute, Agudo, Angoisse anxiété, Anxiety, Angustia ansiedad, Animal, CRF, Corticotropin releasing factor, HACT-RH, Elément minéral, Inorganic element, Elemento inorgánico, Etat dépressif, Depression, Estado depresivo, Hypernatrémie, Hypernatremia, Hipernatremia, Hypertension artérielle, Hypertension, Hipertensión arterial, Mâle, Male, Macho, Ocytocine, Oxytocin, Ocitocina, Sodium, Sodio, Souris, Mouse, Ratón, Stress, Estrés, Système hypothalamohypophysosurrénalien, Hypothalamohypophysoadrenal axis, Sistema hipotalamohipofisosuprarrenal, Corticotropin-releasing-hormone, and Hypematremia

Previous investigation by our laboratory found that acute hypernatremia potentiates an oxytocinergic tone that inhibits parvocellular neurosecretory neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN), attenuates restraint-induced surges in corticosterone (CORT), and reduces anxiety-like behavior in male rats. To investigate the neural mechanisms mediating these effects and extend our findings to a more versatile species, we repeated our studies using laboratory mice. In response to 2.0 M NaCl injections, mice had increased plasma sodium concentrations which were associated with a blunted rise in CORT subsequent to restraint challenge relative to 0.15 M NaCl injected controls. Immunofluorescent identification of the immediate early gene product Fos found that 2.0 M NaCl treatment increased the number of activated neurons producing oxytocin in the PVN. To evaluate the effect of acute hypernatremia on PVN neurons producing corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), we used the Cre-lox system to generate mice that produced the red fluorescent protein, tdTomato, in cells that had Cre-recombinase activity driven by CRH gene expression. Analysis of brain tissue from these CRH-reporter mice revealed that 2.0 M NaCl treatment caused a dramatic reduction in Fos-positive nuclei specifically in CRH-producing PVN neurons. This altered pattern of activity was predictive of alleviated anxiety-like behavior as mice administered 2.0 M NaCl spent more time exploring the open arms of an elevated-plus maze than 0.15 M NaCl treated controls. Taken together, these results further implicate an oxytocin-dependent inhibition of CRH neurons in the PVN and demonstrate the impact that slight elevations in plasma sodium have on hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis output and anxiety-like behavior.

Affect affectivité, Affect affectivity, Afecto afectividad, Encéphale, Encephalon, Encéfalo, Hormone gastrointestinale, Gastrointestinal hormone, Hormona gastrointestinal, Système nerveux central, Central nervous system, Sistema nervioso central, Angoisse anxiété, Anxiety, Angustia ansiedad, Chronique, Chronic, Crónico, Noyau paraventriculaire, Paraventricular nucleus, Núcleo paraventricular, Peptide GLP1, Glucagon like peptide 1, Péptido GLP1, Stress, Estrés, Système hypothalamohypophysosurrénalien, Hypothalamohypophysoadrenal axis, Sistema hipotalamohipofisosuprarrenal, Preproglucagon, Chronic stress, HPA axis, Nucleus of the solitary tract, Sciences biologiques et medicales, Biological and medical sciences, Sciences biologiques fondamentales et appliquees. Psychologie, Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology, Psychologie. Psychophysiologie, Psychology. Psychophysiology, Psychophysiologie du comportement, Behavioral psychophysiology, Psychologie. Psychanalyse. Psychiatrie, Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry, Cognition, Physiology, morphology, Physiologie, morphologie, Psychophysiology, and Psychophysiologie

Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) is best known as an incretin hormone, secreted from L cells in the intestine in response to nutrient ingestion to stimulate glucose-dependent insulin secretion. However, GLP-1 is also expressed in neurons, and plays a major role in regulation of homeostatic function within the central nervous system (CNS). This review summarizes our current state of knowledge on the role GLP-1 plays in neural coordination of the organismal stress response. In the brain, the primary locus of GLP-1 production is in the caudal nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) and the ventrolateral medulla of the hindbrain. GLP-1 immunoreactive fibers directly innervate hypophysiotrophic corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) neurons in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN), placing GLP-1 in prime position to integrate hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical responses. Exogenous central GLP-1 activates HPA axis stress responses, and responses to a variety of stressors can be blocked by a GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R) antagonist, confirming an excitatory role in glucocorticoid secretion. In addition, central infusion of GLP-1R agonist increases heart rate and blood pressure, and activates hypothalamic and brainstem neurons innervating sympathetic preganglionic neurons, suggesting a sympathoexcitatory role of GLP-1 in the CNS. Bioavailability of preproglucagon (PPG) mRNA and GLP-1 peptide is reduced by exogenous or endogenous glucocorticoid secretion, perhaps as a mechanism to reduce GLP-1-mediated stress excitation. Altogether, the data suggest that GLP-1 plays a key role in activation of stress responses, which may be connected with its role in central regulation of energy homeostasis.

Cognition, Physiology, morphology, Physiologie, morphologie, Psychophysiology, Psychophysiologie, Sciences biologiques et medicales, Biological and medical sciences, Sciences biologiques fondamentales et appliquees. Psychologie, Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology, Psychologie. Psychophysiologie, Psychology. Psychophysiology, Psychophysiologie du comportement, Behavioral psychophysiology, Psychologie. Psychanalyse. Psychiatrie, Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry, Affect affectivité, Affect affectivity, Afecto afectividad, Encéphale, Encephalon, Encéfalo, Hormone gastrointestinale, Gastrointestinal hormone, Hormona gastrointestinal, Système nerveux central, Central nervous system, Sistema nervioso central, Angoisse anxiété, Anxiety, Angustia ansiedad, Chronique, Chronic, Crónico, Noyau paraventriculaire, Paraventricular nucleus, Núcleo paraventricular, Peptide GLP1, Glucagon like peptide 1, Péptido GLP1, Stress, Estrés, Système hypothalamohypophysosurrénalien, Hypothalamohypophysoadrenal axis, Sistema hipotalamohipofisosuprarrenal, Preproglucagon, Chronic stress, HPA axis, and Nucleus of the solitary tract

Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) is best known as an incretin hormone, secreted from L cells in the intestine in response to nutrient ingestion to stimulate glucose-dependent insulin secretion. However, GLP-1 is also expressed in neurons, and plays a major role in regulation of homeostatic function within the central nervous system (CNS). This review summarizes our current state of knowledge on the role GLP-1 plays in neural coordination of the organismal stress response. In the brain, the primary locus of GLP-1 production is in the caudal nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) and the ventrolateral medulla of the hindbrain. GLP-1 immunoreactive fibers directly innervate hypophysiotrophic corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) neurons in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN), placing GLP-1 in prime position to integrate hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical responses. Exogenous central GLP-1 activates HPA axis stress responses, and responses to a variety of stressors can be blocked by a GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R) antagonist, confirming an excitatory role in glucocorticoid secretion. In addition, central infusion of GLP-1R agonist increases heart rate and blood pressure, and activates hypothalamic and brainstem neurons innervating sympathetic preganglionic neurons, suggesting a sympathoexcitatory role of GLP-1 in the CNS. Bioavailability of preproglucagon (PPG) mRNA and GLP-1 peptide is reduced by exogenous or endogenous glucocorticoid secretion, perhaps as a mechanism to reduce GLP-1-mediated stress excitation. Altogether, the data suggest that GLP-1 plays a key role in activation of stress responses, which may be connected with its role in central regulation of energy homeostasis.

Descendance, Progeny, Descendencia, Glucocorticoïde, Glucocorticoid, Glucocorticoide, Parent, Pariente, Risque prédation, Predation risk, Riesgo depredación, Stress, Estrés, Système hypothalamohypophysosurrénalien, Hypothalamohypophysoadrenal axis, Sistema hipotalamohipofisosuprarrenal, HPA axis, Maternal programming, Parental effect, Predators, Sciences biologiques et medicales, Biological and medical sciences, Sciences biologiques fondamentales et appliquees. Psychologie, Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology, Psychologie. Psychophysiologie, Psychology. Psychophysiology, Psychophysiologie du comportement, Behavioral psychophysiology, Psychologie. Psychanalyse. Psychiatrie, Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry, Cognition, Physiology, morphology, Physiologie, morphologie, Psychophysiology, and Psychophysiologie

Non-genetic maternal effects are widespread across taxa and challenge our traditional understanding of inheritance. Maternal experience with predators, for example, can have lifelong consequences for offspring traits, including fitness. Previous work in threespine sticklebacks showed that females exposed to simulated predation risk produced eggs with higher cortisol content and offspring with altered anti-predator behavior. However, it is unknown whether this maternal effect is mediated via the offspring glucocorticoid stress response and if it is retained over the entire lifetime of offspring. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that maternal exposure to simulated predation risk has long-lasting effects on the cortisol response to simulated predation risk in stickleback offspring. We measured circulating concentrations of cortisol before (baseline), 15 min after, and 60 min after exposure to a simulated predation risk. We compared adult offspring of predator-exposed mothers and control mothers in two different social environments (alone or in a group). Relative to baseline, offspring plasma cortisol was highest 15 min after exposure to simulated predation risk and decreased after 60 min. Offspring of predator-exposed mothers differed in the cortisol response to simulated predation risk compared to offspring of control mothers. In general, females had higher cortisol than males, and fish in a group had lower cortisol than fish that were by themselves. The buffering effect of the social environment did not differ between maternal treatments or between males and females. Altogether the results show that while a mother's experience with simulated predation risk might affect the physiological response of her adult offspring to a predator, sex and social isolation have much larger effects on the stress response to predation risk in sticklebacks.

Cognition, Physiology, morphology, Physiologie, morphologie, Psychophysiology, Psychophysiologie, Sciences biologiques et medicales, Biological and medical sciences, Sciences biologiques fondamentales et appliquees. Psychologie, Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology, Psychologie. Psychophysiologie, Psychology. Psychophysiology, Psychophysiologie du comportement, Behavioral psychophysiology, Psychologie. Psychanalyse. Psychiatrie, Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry, Descendance, Progeny, Descendencia, Glucocorticoïde, Glucocorticoid, Glucocorticoide, Parent, Pariente, Risque prédation, Predation risk, Riesgo depredación, Stress, Estrés, Système hypothalamohypophysosurrénalien, Hypothalamohypophysoadrenal axis, Sistema hipotalamohipofisosuprarrenal, HPA axis, Maternal programming, Parental effect, and Predators

Non-genetic maternal effects are widespread across taxa and challenge our traditional understanding of inheritance. Maternal experience with predators, for example, can have lifelong consequences for offspring traits, including fitness. Previous work in threespine sticklebacks showed that females exposed to simulated predation risk produced eggs with higher cortisol content and offspring with altered anti-predator behavior. However, it is unknown whether this maternal effect is mediated via the offspring glucocorticoid stress response and if it is retained over the entire lifetime of offspring. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that maternal exposure to simulated predation risk has long-lasting effects on the cortisol response to simulated predation risk in stickleback offspring. We measured circulating concentrations of cortisol before (baseline), 15 min after, and 60 min after exposure to a simulated predation risk. We compared adult offspring of predator-exposed mothers and control mothers in two different social environments (alone or in a group). Relative to baseline, offspring plasma cortisol was highest 15 min after exposure to simulated predation risk and decreased after 60 min. Offspring of predator-exposed mothers differed in the cortisol response to simulated predation risk compared to offspring of control mothers. In general, females had higher cortisol than males, and fish in a group had lower cortisol than fish that were by themselves. The buffering effect of the social environment did not differ between maternal treatments or between males and females. Altogether the results show that while a mother's experience with simulated predation risk might affect the physiological response of her adult offspring to a predator, sex and social isolation have much larger effects on the stress response to predation risk in sticklebacks.