Effect of age at the time of pituitary grafting on behavioral recovery in dwarf mice

The effects of ectopic pituitary isograft implanted in 13- or 21-day-old Snell dwarf mice on their freely expressed behavior were examined over a 14- or 31-day period. This mutant strain has severe anterohypophyseal deficiency which causes high levels of inactivity and abnormally low exploratory activity. The graft totally normalized these behaviors. Results showed that the time necessary for inducing behavioral changes is independent of age of the animals at the time of grafting, but the age at which implantation occurs influences the speed of full behavioral normalization. The possible involvement of prolactin and growth hormone in such behavioral improvement is discussed.