Sudden death in the laboratory rat.
Vulnerability to sudden death was produced in laboratory rats by manipulating their developmental history. Rats who were reared in isolation died suddenly when placed in a stressful swimming situation. Handling of these singly-housed rats from 25 to 100 days of age potentiated the phenomenon. However, animals who were group housed did not die even when they had been previously handled.
D000818:Animals; D003423:Critical Period, Psychological; D006234:Handling, Psychological; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D012934:Social Isolation; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D013550:Swimming