Prenatal stress (PNS) can influence behaviors associated with cognition, reward and emotional regulation, which are controlled by brain areas such as the cortex, hippocampus, hypothalamus, midbrain and cerebellum. Allopregnanolone in these regions modulates behavioral and parasympathetic effects. The current study tested whether exposing pregnant dams to 5 days of resident-intruder stress on prenatal days 15–20 for 10 min altered the levels of allopregnanolone in cortex, hypothalamus, hippocampus, midbrain, and cerebellum of male and female juvenile offspring. In cortex, hypothalamus, and midbrain of male rats exposed to prenatal stress, levels of allopregnanolone were significantly lower compared to all other groups. In the hippocampus and cerebellum, among females exposed to prenatal stress levels were significantly higher compared to all other groups. These differences in allopregnanolone levels varying by prenatal stress, sex and brain regions provide insight in potential mechanism of stress regulation and etiopathophysiology of stress-related disorders.

产前压力（PNS）会影响与认知，奖励和情绪调节有关的行为，这些行为受大脑区域（例如皮质，海马，下丘脑，中脑和小脑）控制。在这些区域中的Allopregnanolone调节行为和副交感神经的作用。当前的研究测试了在产前15-20天将孕妇的大坝暴露于居民入侵5天10分钟是否改变了雄性和雌性少年后代的皮质，下丘脑，海马，中脑和小脑中的allopregnanolone的水平。在暴露于产前压力的雄性大鼠的皮质，下丘脑和中脑中，Allopregnanolone的水平明显低于所有其他组。在海马和小脑中 与其他所有组相比，暴露于产前压力水平的女性中的女性比例明显更高。由于产前压力，性别和大脑区域的不同，异四氢萘酚酮水平的这些差异提供了对压力调节的潜在机制和与压力有关的疾病的病因病理生理学的认识。