[Effect of exposure to stress applied during early ontogenesis on the avoidance reaction in young rats]

A study was made of the influence of stress (swinging) applied on the first to the fifth day of life of newborn rats, on acquistion of active unilateral avoidance, passive avoidance of a dark "dangerous" compartment, the relative weight of the brain and absolute increase in the weight of the body at an early age. It was shown that in four-week old rats the stress significantly worsens active avoidance acquisition. In two-month old animals avoidance of a dark "dangerous" compartment, i.e. "passive" avoidance, tested immediately after application of electric current is more pronounced in stressed rats. No difference was found in the relative weight of the brain and the absolute increase in the weight of the body between control and stress groups of the animals.