Plasma-Free Corticosteroid Response to Electric Shock in Rats Stimulated in Infancy

Circulating corticosteroids were measured after a brief electric shock in rats which were manipulated during infancy. When compared to nonmanipulated controls it was found that the manipulated rats showed a significant elevation of corticosteroids as early as 15 seconds after shock, whereas the nonmanipulated subjects did not show a significant elevation of steroids until 5 minutes after a brief shock. Further, the levels of corticosteroids were consistently higher in the manipulated subjects over a 15-minute period.