Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

The Anterior Commissure : The Effects Of Sex And Prenatal Stress, Hendree Evelyn Jones

Master's Theses

The effects of prenatal stress (light/restraint) on the development of the anterior commissure (AC) were investigated. The AC is known to be a sexually dimorphic structure of the brain not directly involved in reproductive behavior; unlike hypothalamic structures and nuclei, however, little is known about its development. The present work examines two factors, sex and stress, known to influence other brain areas. Pregnant rats were assigned to prenatal treatment and control groups. The treatment group was stressed thrice daily for thirty minutes using light/restraint during the third trimester (day 14-21). Control dams remained undisturbed. Male and female offspring were killed …