Functional development of prefrontal cortex in rats continues into adolescence.
Bilateral removal of the sulcal prefrontal cortex in rats at 60 days of age and older results in aphagia and adipsia, but removal of this area before 60 days of age does not affect food or water regulation. Apparently the development of the role of this neocortical region in feeding and drinking continues well beyond the time of weaning in the rat.
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000254:growth & development*; D004327:Drinking Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats / Q000254:growth & development*