Sex differences in effects of environmental stimulation on brain weight of previously undernourished rats.
Neonatally undernourished male and female rats were housed under differential (enriched vs standard) environmental conditions during refeeding from 30 days post-partum (dpp). Animals were killed at 170 dpp and whole brain, forebrain and cerebellar weights compared with those of normally-fed, differentially housed control animals. A sex difference was observed in the response to environmental enrichment. Enriched females showed significantly increased brain weights, irrespective of previous nutritional history. Enriched males failed to show any significant alteration in brain weight. Autopsy results indicated that the enriched condition was stressful to males but not to females. The results cast doubt on the notion that infantile undernutrition may limit later effects of differential experience on the brain.
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D009929:Organ Size; D051381:Rats; D012737:Sex Factors; D012931:Social Environment