Variable foraging demand rearing: Sustained elevations in cisternal cerebrospinal fluid corticotropin-releasing factor concentrations in adult primates

Background: The authors previously reported elevated cerebrospinal fluid (C SF) corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) concentrations in juvenile primate s nursed by, in others undergoing experimentally imposed unpredictable fora ging conditions in comparison to normally reared controls. The purpose of t he present study was to determine if these changes would endure into young adulthood. Methods: Cisternal CSF samples were obtained from those unpredictably reare d young adult primates who had been previously studied as juveniles and age -matched ad libitum normally reared controls. Samples were assayed for CSF CRF. Results: Concentrations of CSF CRF were significantly elevated in the unpre dictably reared sample in comparison to the ad libitum-reared control group . A significant positive correlation was noted between juvenile and young a dult CSF CRF values within the unpredictably reared cohort. Conclusions: Disturbances of maternal-infant attachment processes have an e nduring impact an primate CRF,function into young adulthood. The CRF elevat ions following unpredictable maternal foraging conditions appear traitlike in nature. (C) 2001 Society of Biological Psychiatry.