title: Effects of social isolation and crowding upon adrenocortical reactivity and behavior in the rat.
abstract: The effects of social isolation and crowding on adrenocortical function and upon behavioral responsiveness to electric shock have been studied in male and female rats. All female experimental groups showed higher corticosterone levels and heavier adrenals than their male counterparts. The major effect of housing condition concerned the corticosterone response to stress, while basal hormone concentration was not modified. Socially housed rats showed a more intense adrenocortical response and also a greater behavioral reactivity to electric shock than the isolates.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biología Animal II (Fisiología Animal), Facultad de C. Biológicas, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Viveros
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hernández
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Martínez
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: González
mesh_terms: D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood*; D003441:Crowding / Q000502:physiology*; D004597:Electroshock; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012934:Social Isolation; D013312:Stress, Physiological
chemical_list: D003345:Corticosterone