Effects of maternal deprivation of CD1 mice on performance in the water maze and swim stress.
Rat pups subjected to a single 24h maternal deprivation show altered stress responsiveness and cognitive performance in the water maze in adulthood. Here we show in 6-month-old male CD1 mice (deprived 24h at postnatal day 8) an initial impairment in reversal learning: relocating the platform revealed perseverance in search for the former location. Spatial learning, long-term memory and swim-induced corticosterone responses were not affected. We conclude that reduced flexibility is a subtle long-lasting behavioural change induced by maternal deprivation.
Enthoven
L
L
Division of Medical Pharmacology, Leiden/Amsterdam Center for Drug Research, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, PO Box 9502, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands.
de Kloet
E R
ER
Oitzl
M S
MS
D000818:Animals; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008426:Maternal Deprivation; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D012055:Reinforcement Schedule; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000097:blood / Q000523:psychology*; D013550:Swimming / Q000523:psychology*
D003345:Corticosterone