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Deficits in exploratory behaviour in socially isolated rats are not accompanied by changes in cerebral cortical
S C Stanford1, V Parker, A Morinan
1Department of Pharmacology, University College and Middlesex School of Medicine, University College London, U.K.
Abstract:
Social isolation of rats produces marked deficits in exploratory behaviour in a novel environment. To test our hypothesis that adrenoceptors are modified by social isolation we have measured alpha 2- and beta-adrenoceptor binding in the cerebral cortex of rats isolated for 21 days starting immediately after weaning. After this period the animals showed a significant reduction in exploration in the elevated X-maze and increased avoidance of bright light in a two-compartment shuttlebox. There were no changes in adrenoceptor binding at this time, however. The implications of these findings are discussed.