Stress And Reproduction

The animal kingdom could give important clues to rising teenage
pregnancy rates, Chicago scientists say.

Stressful experiences in early life prematurely turn on female
monkeys' maternal streaks, found one study.

Similarly, teenage girls who grow up without a father at home reach
puberty earlier and are more drawn maternally to pictures of infants,
it found.

Such factors should be considered along with more obvious
socioeconomic causes, says Professor Dario Maestripieri.

Maternal instinct

The Chicago University professor has studied the biology of
reproductive and parenting behaviour in monkeys and humans.

He said there was much to be learned from animals.

His latest study, due to be published in the Proceedings of the Royal
Society journal, looked at female rhesus monkeys, which are considered
to be one of the animals most similar to humans.

Those females who were exposed to harsh and unpredictable maternal
care in infancy showed earlier interest in infants as well as higher
stress hormones during development.

Professor Maestripieri says the same is true for young girls. "Early
social influences are very important for human reproduction," he told
the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of
Science (AAAS).

"Things that go on in families in the first few years of life can have
consequences way beyond childhood.

"Girls without a father at home start menstruating at an early age."

He said there were a number of theories why that might be.

"It might be the fact that there could be other males around, for
example boyfriends of the mother, and the presence of an unrelated
male accelerates puberty.

"It might be a genetic effect, that there is a gene in the father that
makes him leave and the same gene in the daughter causes early
reproduction."

But he said his work on monkeys suggested quality of maternal care was
the important factor.

"Early stress can accelerate the development of maternal
responsiveness in both humans and monkeys."

--

	#1
WardManager@Animail.Net	Stress And Reproduction The animal kingdom could give important clues to rising teenage pregnancy rates, Chicago scientists say. Stressful experiences in early life prematurely turn on female monkeys' maternal streaks, found one study. Similarly, teenage girls who grow up without a father at home reach puberty earlier and are more drawn maternally to pictures of infants, it found. Such factors should be considered along with more obvious socioeconomic causes, says Professor Dario Maestripieri. Maternal instinct The Chicago University professor has studied the biology of reproductive and parenting behaviour in monkeys and humans. He said there was much to be learned from animals. His latest study, due to be published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society journal, looked at female rhesus monkeys, which are considered to be one of the animals most similar to humans. Those females who were exposed to harsh and unpredictable maternal care in infancy showed earlier interest in infants as well as higher stress hormones during development. Professor Maestripieri says the same is true for young girls. "Early social influences are very important for human reproduction," he told the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). "Things that go on in families in the first few years of life can have consequences way beyond childhood. "Girls without a father at home start menstruating at an early age." He said there were a number of theories why that might be. "It might be the fact that there could be other males around, for example boyfriends of the mother, and the presence of an unrelated male accelerates puberty. "It might be a genetic effect, that there is a gene in the father that makes him leave and the same gene in the daughter causes early reproduction." But he said his work on monkeys suggested quality of maternal care was the important factor. "Early stress can accelerate the development of maternal responsiveness in both humans and monkeys." --