| Abstract: | The temporal pattern of plasma corticosterone concentrations following electric shock was studied in 10-week old mice from two inbred strains (C57BL/10J and DBA/2) and their reciprocal crosses, half of which had been subjected to infantile stimulation. The roles of genotype, maternal factors, and handling were assessed as determinants of corticosteroid response to stress. Highly significant and opposing genetic and maternal effects interacted to limit extreme plasma corticosterone concentrations following stress. Infantile stimulation also acted to produce intermediate steroid responses. |
