Meeting Abstract
Reproduction is associated with a significant increase in energetic demand, particularly among small female mammals. When these demands are particularly high, or the animal is under stress, the cost of reproduction can reduce future reproductive performance and longevity. An increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels has been proposed to underlie this relationship. While empirical tests of this theory have been equivocal, relatively few studies have evaluated change within the brain. Prolonged exposure to excessive levels of ROS has been shown to impair cognitive ability. Further, correlations have also been found between the number of reproductive bouts a female has and the risk of developing neurological disorders. These correlations suggest there is a link between relative parity and brain damage over a lifetime. With this investigation, we compare mitochondrial complex activity, oxidative damage, antioxidants and the linked, unfolded protein response in the forebrain, midbrain, and the cerebellum of 3 groups of the of ICR lab mice. These age-matched mice include 1) a group of non-reproductive mice, 2) a group of mice that had 1 reproductive event, and 3) a group of mice that had 4 reproductive events. Preliminary data suggests that antioxidant levels vary between forebrain, midbrain, and the cerebellum, but damage and antioxidants did not vary with parity. The impact of treatment on mitochondrial function via complex activity and the unfolded protein response will be discussed.
