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Pubertal stress in male rats: Effects on juvenile play behavior and adult sexual partner preference
Yessica Zuleima León-Ahumada1, Deissy Herrera-Covarrubias2, Luis I García2
1Doctorado en Investigaciones Cerebrales, Universidad Veracruzana, Mexico.
Insights
An immune challenge during puberty did not alter juvenile play or adult sexual preference in male rats. This suggests resilience in these behaviors despite acute pubertal stress.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Behavioral Endocrinology
Background:
- Puberty is a critical developmental stage characterized by significant brain organization.
- Social and sexual behaviors are profoundly influenced by pubertal maturation.
- Immune challenges during development can impact neuroendocrine and behavioral outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of an acute immune challenge during puberty on juvenile play and adult sexual partner preference in male rats.
- To determine if lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced sickness affects short-term social play and long-term sexual behavior.
Main Methods:
- Male rats received an intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or saline at postnatal day 35 (PND35).
- Juvenile play was assessed between PND36-40.
- Sexual partner preference was evaluated at PND60, PND64, and PND68 using a three-compartment chamber with female and male partners.
Main Results:
- LPS administration induced transient sickness signs, confirming an effective immune challenge.
- No significant effects of LPS treatment were observed on juvenile play behavior.
- Adult sexual behavior and partner preference for females remained unaffected by the pubertal immune challenge.
Conclusions:
- An acute immune challenge during puberty does not impair juvenile play or adult sexual partner preference in male rats.
- These findings suggest a notable resilience of social and sexual behavioral systems to immune-mediated stress during critical developmental periods.
- While immune challenges may not affect these specific behaviors, other forms of stress could potentially have an impact.
Abstract:
Puberty is a period of brain organization impacting the expression of social and sexual behaviors. Here, we assessed the effects of an acute pubertal stressor (immune challenge) on the expression of juvenile play (short-term) and sexual partner preference (long-term) in male rats. Juvenile play was assessed over ten trials at postnatal days (PND) (31-40) with age- and sex-matched conspecifics, and at PND35 males received a single injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 1.5 mg/kg i.p.) or saline. Then, sexual partner preference was assessed at PND 60, 64, and 68, in a three-compartment chamber with a sexually receptive female and a male as potential partners simultaneously. The results confirmed that a single injection of LPS during puberty induced sickness signs indicative of an immune challenge. However, juvenile play was not affected by LPS treatment during the following days (PND36-40), nor was sexual behavior and partner preference for females in adulthood. These findings highlight that, while other studies have shown that LPS-induced immunological stress during puberty affects behavior and neuroendocrine responses, it does not affect juvenile play and sexual behavior in male rats. This suggests a remarkable resilience of these behavioral systems for adaptation to stressful experiences mediated by immune challenges during critical periods of development. These behaviors, however, might be affected by other types of stress.
