T. Poltyrev et M. Weinstock, EFFECT OF PRENATAL STRESS ON OPIOID COMPONENT OF EXPLORATION IN DIFFERENT EXPERIMENTAL SITUATIONS, Pharmacology, biochemistry and behavior, 58(2), 1997, pp. 387-393
Prenatal stress interferes with the expression of opioid systems in ra
ts. The present study determined the effect of prenatal stress on the
opioid-influenced component of exploratory behavior, defined as the di
fference between the behavior of vehicle-treated and naloxone-treated
rats, in three novel situations previously shown to cause different de
grees of arousal. Pregnant rats were stressed three times weekly an a
random basis by noise and flashing lights. Experiments were performed
on 60-70-day-old offspring (male and female) of control and stressed d
arns. Fifteen minutes after injection of vehicle or naloxone (1 mg/kg)
, the proportion of time spent in eight different behavioral parameter
s, including locomotion, rearing, sniffing, hole poking, pivoting, and
grooming, was assessed during 4 min of exposure to an open field, eit
her with or without prior exposure to a hole box. The magnitude of the
depressant effect of naloxone on exploration depended on the nature o
f the environment, previous experience of the animal in another situat
ion, and the parameter of exploration assessed. The opioid-influenced
component of locomotion and rearing was significantly reduced by prena
tal stress, particularly in female rats. Further studies using a cross
-fostering design are needed to assess the relative contributions of p
re-and postnatal factors to the reduction of opioid activity in prenat
ally stressed rats. More specific opioid antagonists could be used to
determine the nature of the opioid receptors involved. (C) 1997 Elsevi
er Science Inc.