The long bones of neonatal rats stressed by cold, heat, and noise exhibit increased fluctuating asymmetry.
In order to determine the effects of stress agents on the magnitude of fluctuating asymmetry in long bone measurements, data from litters of rats conceived and born in cold (10 degrees C), heat (33 degrees C), and noise (random protocol) were compared to data on control animals born at room temperature (22 degrees C). All animals were sacrificed at birth, and right and left femoral lengths were recorded. Correlation coefficients calculated for right and left femora were transformed to Hotelling's z* values which were then compared using the test of homogeneity of correlation coefficients. The magnitude of fluctuating asymmetry was found to be significantly (p less than .05) greater in the femora of animals in the three stressed groups.
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001846:Bone Development; D003080:Cold Temperature; D005269:Femur / Q000254:growth & development; D006358:Hot Temperature; D009622:Noise; D051381:Rats; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000503:physiopathology*