title: Protracted effects of juvenile stressor exposure are mitigated by access to palatable food.
abstract: Stressor experiences during the juvenile period may increase vulnerability to anxiety and depressive-like symptoms in adulthood. Stressors may also promote palatable feeding, possibly reflecting a form of self-medication. The current study investigated the short- and long-term consequences of a stressor applied during the juvenile period on anxiety- and depressive-like behavior measured by the elevated plus maze (EPM), social interaction and forced swim test (FST). Furthermore, the effects of stress on caloric intake, preference for a palatable food and indices of metabolic syndrome and obesity were assessed. Male Wistar rats exposed to 3 consecutive days of variable stressors on postnatal days (PD) 27-29, displayed elevated anxiety-like behaviors as adults, which could be attenuated by consumption of a palatable high-fat diet. However, consumption of a palatable food in response to a stressor appeared to contribute to increased adiposity.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Jennifer Christine
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: MacKay
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Jonathan Stewart
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: James
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cayer
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kent
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Hymie
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Anisman
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Zul
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Merali
mesh_terms: D050154:Adiposity / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001007:Anxiety / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000378:metabolism; D003863:Depression / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D059305:Diet, High-Fat / Q000009:adverse effects; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000502:physiology; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005502:Food / Q000009:adverse effects; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000502:physiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D013550:Swimming / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D003345:Corticosterone