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Differences in the persistence of spatial memory deficits induced by a chronic stressor in adolescents compared to juveniles
Author(s) -
Stylianakis Anthea A.,
HarmonJones Sylvia K.,
Richardson Rick,
Baker Kathryn D.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
developmental psychobiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.055
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1098-2302
pISSN - 0012-1630
DOI - 10.1002/dev.21750
Subject(s) - juvenile , stressor , corticosterone , psychology , chronic stress , period (music) , developmental psychology , physiology , medicine , endocrinology , hormone , neuroscience , biology , genetics , physics , acoustics
Abstract Adolescence is thought of as a stress‐sensitive developmental period. While many studies have compared adolescent responses to stress relative to that of adults, a growing body of work has examined stress responses in juveniles. Here we investigated if a chronic stressor has a differential effect on spatial memory in rats depending on whether it occurs during adolescence or the juvenile period. Male rats were exposed to the stress hormone corticosterone (Cort) in their drinking water, a vehicle control (2.5% ethanol), or water, for 7 days before being tested on a novel Object/Place task 6 days or 6 weeks later. Exposure to Cort or ethanol at either age impaired spatial memory at the 6‐day test. The ethanol induced impairment was attenuated 6 weeks later. However, rats given Cort during adolescence, but not the juvenile period, were still impaired. Together, these results suggest that adolescence is indeed a stress‐sensitive period.