MODIFICATION OF CORTICOSTERONE RESPONSE CURVE AS A FUNCTION OF HANDLING IN INFANCY

Rats were handled on days 1-5 or 1-20 at ambient temperature (22.2°C); a third group was handled for the first 5 days at body temperature (35.5°C) while a control group group was not disturbed. At 35-37 days of age all animals were exposed to a novel stimulus and then their plasma was assayed for adrenocorticosterone. The corticosterone levels of all experimental groups was significantly less than that of the control group. In addition, the rate of return to a resting level was significantly more rapid in the handled groups than in the control. © 1969.