LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF EARLY DIAZEPAM EXPOSURE ON SOCIAL DIFFERENTIATION IN ADULT MALE RATS SUBJECTED TO THE DIVING-FOR-FOOD SITUATION

The present study was designed to investigate the consequences of a ch ronic diazepam (DZ) exposure (10 mg/kg/day) during the first 3 weeks o f life on social behavior of adult male rats measured in a situation o f restricted access to food, the diving-for-food model. The treatment had no long-term effects on the acquisition of social poles related to feeding. However, DZ-exposed rats were less efficient than controls i n carrying food from the feeder to the cage during the Ist session but were able to adapt and improve their performances during the 2nd one. In the home cage, DZ-exposed rats were more aggressive toward conspec ifics than controls and compensated for their deficit of food by steal ing it from the others. These results suggest that an early DZ exposur e has long-term consequences on social behavior of rats, possibly refl ecting a reduction of the level of emotionality.