Key result
Maternal separation in male rats induced only modest changes in adult cardiac structure and failed to heighten cardiac parasympathetic drive following intermittent restraint stress.
Why the study?
Does early maternal separation alter cardiac autonomic balance and heart structure in adult male rats?
Population
Male Wistar rats
Comparison
Maternal separation for 3 hours per day from… vs Control rats exposed to 5-day intermittent…
Design
Preclinical
Follow-up
Adulthood
Authors
Loading...
Questions validity of maternal separation as a model for early stress-induced cardiac disease; leaves open alternative mechanisms in humans.
Does early maternal separation alter cardiac autonomic balance and heart structure in adult male rats?
Early maternal separation in rats produces only mild cardiac functional and structural effects, suggesting it may not be a valid model for early stress-induced cardiac disease in humans.
Trombini et al. (2011) studied Cardiac stress responsivity and structure. Maternal separation vs. Control rats was evaluated on Cardiac stress responsivity and structure in adulthood. Maternal separation in male rats induced only modest changes in adult cardiac structure and failed to heighten cardiac parasympathetic drive following intermittent restraint stress.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: