EFFECTS OF PERINATAL DIAZEPAM EXPOSURE ON THE SEXUALLY DIMORPHIC RAT LOCUS-CERULEUS

Diazepam (DZ) administration over prenatal, postnatal, and pre plus po stnatal periods altered the normal expression of the morphological sex differences of the LC. Males were affected only by the prenatal expos ure and the effect of this exposure produced an increase in the volume and neuron number of male's LC. By contrast, females were affected by both pre and postnatal treatments and the effect of this exposure res ulted in a decrease in the volume and neuron number of female's LC. Ho wever, pre plus postnatal treatment did not affect female's LC.