Role of cutaneous feedback in ventral rubbing in the male Mongolian gerbil

Increased arousal levels in pregnant rats were produced via electrical stimulation of the reticular formation (RF) on Days 6–16 of gestation. Current levels between 0.02 and 0.06 mA were selected depending on the threshold for overt motor response to stimulation in the individual animal. Offspring were tested at 30 days of age for threshold of flurothyl-induced convulsion, and at 90 days of age for percent avoidance in a shock avoidance task. In comparison to offspring of implanted controls, RF-stimulated offspring had elevated seizure thresholds (males and females) and enhanced avoidance performance (females only). Further studies using fostering showed that the effect on avoidance performance was mediated both prenatally and postnatally. The relative importance of prenatal and postnatal influences on seizure threshold could not be determined. These results are compared to previous studies of the behavioral effects of prenatal chlorpromazine threatment.