Abstract

"Introduction. It is well known that early adverse experiences act as a risk factor in the development of various psychopathologies in close association with functional prefrontal abnormalities. However, it is not known if such hostile experiencies impair the neuronal development in the prefrontal cortex. In the present study we analyzed the long-term effects of isolated-induced changes on both, anxiety behavior and neuronal development in the medial prefrontal cortex. Methods. Sprague-Dawley albino rats were reared from weaning either in isolation (IC, n=24) or in social groups (SC, n=22) during thirty consecutive days (P21-P51) and their ""anxiogenic profile"" was evaluated. Then, half of the animals of both groups were sacrificed for neuronal studies. The remaining isolated rats were housed under social conditions (IC-SC) for thirty additional days (P55-P85), and neurobehavioral parameters were similarly quantified. Results. The results obtained indicate that isolated animals displayed an anxiogenic profile in the elevated plus maze, associated with a remarkable neural impairment. Furthermore, resocialization of isolation-reared rats for further thirty days neither reverse anxious behavior nor neuronal impairment. Conclusions. These data suggest that early adverse experiences, induced by the social isolation model, alter prefrontal neural development in a relatively permanent way, in close association with anxiety traits"