Maternal separation in rats leads to anxiety-like behavior and a blunted ACTH response and altered neurotransmitter levels in response to a subsequent stressor

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorDaniels W.M.U.
dc.contributor.authorPietersen C.Y.
dc.contributor.authorCarstens M.E.
dc.contributor.authorStein D.J.
dc.date.accessioned2011-05-15T15:59:59Z
dc.date.available2011-05-15T15:59:59Z
dc.date.issued2004
dc.description.abstractAdverse early life experiences can have a negative impact on behavior later in life. We subjected rat pups to maternal separation and determined the effects thereof on adult behavior. We removed rat pups from their mothers for 3 h daily from postnatal days 2 to 14. While controls were reared normally on day 60, the behaviors of the rats were tested using the elevated plus-maze. Some rats were subsequently subjected to restraint stress for a 10-min period. Trunk blood was collected for basal, as well as 15- and 60-min postrestraint stress ACTH determinations. Neurotransmitter levels (noradrenaline (NA), serotonin (5HT), and their metabolites, MHPG and 5HIAA, respectively) were also determined at basal, immediately and 15-min post-restraint stress in the hypothalamus, hippocampus, and frontal cortex in another group of animals. The amount of entries into the arms of the elevated plus-maze was significantly reduced in the separated animals, indicating decreased locomotion. They spent significantly more time in the closed arms of the maze. A significant increase in defecation frequency was noted. These observations suggested anxious behavior. Basal ACTH levels were significantly higher in separated animals. At 15-min post-restraint stress, the ACTH levels were significantly lower than controls, indicating a blunted stress response. A decrease in noradrenaline was noted first in limbic regions and an increase in 5HIAA levels was found in the frontal cortex and hippocampus. We conclude that maternal separation induced abnormal behaviors and stress responses that were associated with altered neurotransmitter levels.
dc.description.versionConference Paper
dc.identifier.citationMetabolic Brain Disease
dc.identifier.citation19
dc.identifier.citation02-Jan
dc.identifier.issn8857490
dc.identifier.other10.1023/B:MEBR.0000027412.19664.b3
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/11469
dc.subjectcorticotropin
dc.subjectneurotransmitter
dc.subjectnoradrenalin
dc.subjectserotonin
dc.subject4 hydroxy 3 methoxyphenylethylene glycol
dc.subject5 hydroxyindoleacetic acid
dc.subjectanimal behavior
dc.subjectanimal experiment
dc.subjectanxiety
dc.subjectconference paper
dc.subjectcontrolled study
dc.subjectdefecation
dc.subjectfemale
dc.subjectfrontal cortex
dc.subjecthippocampus
dc.subjecthypothalamus
dc.subjectlimbic cortex
dc.subjectlocomotion
dc.subjectmale
dc.subjectmaternal deprivation
dc.subjectmaze test
dc.subjectmetabolite
dc.subjectnonhuman
dc.subjectrat
dc.subjectstatistical significance
dc.subjectstress
dc.subjectanimal
dc.subjectanxiety disorder
dc.subjectarticle
dc.subjectblood
dc.subjectbrain level
dc.subjectmental stress
dc.subjectmetabolism
dc.subjectphysiology
dc.subjectAnimalia
dc.subjectAdrenocorticotropic Hormone
dc.subjectAnimals
dc.subjectAnxiety Disorders
dc.subjectBehavior, Animal
dc.subjectBrain Chemistry
dc.subjectFemale
dc.subjectHydroxyindoleacetic Acid
dc.subjectMale
dc.subjectMaternal Deprivation
dc.subjectMaze Learning
dc.subjectMethoxyhydroxyphenylglycol
dc.subjectNorepinephrine
dc.subjectRats
dc.subjectSerotonin
dc.subjectStress, Psychological
dc.titleMaternal separation in rats leads to anxiety-like behavior and a blunted ACTH response and altered neurotransmitter levels in response to a subsequent stressor
dc.typeConference Paper
Files
Collections
Stellenbosch University - Scopus Publications