Effects of Peripubertal Experiences on Competitive Behavior in Male Rats at Different Stages of Adulthood.
Dev Psychobiol
; 66(7): e22544, 2024 Nov.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-39236223
ABSTRACT
Past studies in animal models have extensively investigated the impact of early life experiences on behavioral development, yet relatively few have specifically examined the implications of peripubertal experiences on the evolution of competitive behavior across distinct stages of adulthood. In the current research, we probed potential differences in competitive behavior during emerging adulthood (3 months old) and middle adulthood (12 months old) in 81 Sprague-Dawley male rats exposed to three different peripubertal (postnatal Days 37-60) environments an enriched environment (EE), a chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) condition, and a control condition. Anxiety-like behavior served as a positive control in our study. Results revealed significant variations in competitive behavior among the groups during emerging adulthood. The EE group displayed the least anxiety and outperformed their peers in food-reward-oriented competition, whereas the CUMS group excelled in status-driven, agonistic competition. However, these behavioral differentiations gradually attenuated by middle adulthood, at which point the control group began to show an advantage. Our findings suggest that although peripubertal experiences significantly shape competitive behavior in the emerging adulthood stage, this effect diminishes over time and is nearly non-detectable during mid-adulthood, underscoring the fluidity of behavioral development and demonstrating that the effects of peripubertal experiences can be modulated by subsequent life experiences.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Estrés Psicológico
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Conducta Animal
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Ratas Sprague-Dawley
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Conducta Competitiva
Límite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Dev Psychobiol
Año:
2024
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
China
Pais de publicación:
Estados Unidos