This investigation was undertaken in order to know whether the postnatal tactile/kinesthetic stimulation is effective in reversing the Prenatal Stress, in the cytoarchitecture of the CA3 region of the hippocampus, in female pups. 12 pups of female rats from the Sprague-Dawley strain were distributed to Control Group (GC), the Prenatal Maternal Stress by restriction group (EP) and Prenatal Maternal Stress with postnatal tactile/ kinesthetic stimulation Group (EP-ETK). The Prenatal Maternal Stress in female pups increased neuronal density in CA3b and CA3c areas (p<0.001). When compared to Prenatal Maternal Stress, pups prenatal stress who received early tactile/kinesthetic stimulation showed a decrease in neuronal density in CA3b and CA3c areas (p < 0,001). Postnatal tactile/kinesthetic stimulation was shown to successfully reverse the Prenatal Maternal Stress effects by decreasing neuronal density in CA3b and CA3c hippocampal areas.

KEY WORDS: Hippocampus; Early stimulation. Prenatal Stress; Stereology.