| Abstract: | Long-Evans hooded rat pups were either handled or undisturbed between birth and weaning on Day 21. Following weaning, half of the Ss in each group were housed socially, and half were housed in isolation. At 120–250 days of age, –3H]dexamethasone binding was examined. Binding was significantly higher in the hippocampus of handled than nonhandled groups. In the frontal cortex, binding was higher in the handled/socially reared Ss than in isolated Ss. There were no significant handling or housing effects found in the amygdala, hypothalamus, septum, or pituitary. Thus, early postnatal handling appears to influence the development of the glucocorticoid receptor system in the hippocampus and frontal cortex. Results are discussed as providing a possible mechanism for some of the previously reported effects of early handling on the development of the pituitary-adrenal response to stress. (33 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
