GREATER BEHAVIORAL-EFFECTS OF STRESS IN IMMATURE AS COMPARED TO MATURE MALE-MICE

The effect of sexual maturity on behavioral effects of stress was exam ined in male mice. Immature (4-week-old) or mature (8-week-old) animal s were subjected to either social stress (exposure to an isolated adul t male) or restraint stress for 5 days and examined for body weight, f ood intake, or plus-maze behavior. Social stress reduced food intake, body weight, and open-arm entries in 4-week-old but not 8-week-old mic e. Restraint reduced body weight in 4-week-old but not 8-week-old mice . It is concluded that immature male mice show greater behavioral dist urbances after stress than their mature counterparts. The findings are in agreement with much anecdotal evidence that children are more Vuln erable to stress than adults. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Inc.