Sex differences and estropausal phase effects on water maze performance in aged rats

Stacey G. Warren; Janice M. Juraska

doi:10.1006/nlme.1999.3948

Sex differences and estropausal phase effects on water maze performance in aged rats

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

An age-related decline in memory has been reported in male rats; however, there are few studies that have addressed these changes in aged female rats. In young female rats, hormonal cycles influence behavior. By the age of 22 months most female rats have not had regular hormonal cycles for at least 9 months. In the current study we examined how the hormonal status (persistent estrus and pseudo-pregnant) of the aged (22-24 months) female rat (Long Evans) influenced performance on a spatial version of the Morris water maze and compared this to aged male rats. Aged females in persistent estrus showed better performance on the water maze than both aged females that were pseudopregnant and aged males. Thus, postestropausal hormonal status may influence the course of aging in females. (C) 2000 Academic Press.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	229-240
Number of pages	12
Journal	Neurobiology of Learning and Memory
Volume	74
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1006/nlme.1999.3948
State	Published - 2000

Keywords

Aging
Estropause
Persistent estrus
Rat
Sex difference
Water maze

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
Cognitive Neuroscience
Behavioral Neuroscience

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10.1006/nlme.1999.3948

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title = "Sex differences and estropausal phase effects on water maze performance in aged rats",

abstract = "An age-related decline in memory has been reported in male rats; however, there are few studies that have addressed these changes in aged female rats. In young female rats, hormonal cycles influence behavior. By the age of 22 months most female rats have not had regular hormonal cycles for at least 9 months. In the current study we examined how the hormonal status (persistent estrus and pseudo-pregnant) of the aged (22-24 months) female rat (Long Evans) influenced performance on a spatial version of the Morris water maze and compared this to aged male rats. Aged females in persistent estrus showed better performance on the water maze than both aged females that were pseudopregnant and aged males. Thus, postestropausal hormonal status may influence the course of aging in females. (C) 2000 Academic Press.",

keywords = "Aging, Estropause, Persistent estrus, Rat, Sex difference, Water maze",

author = "Warren, {Stacey G.} and Juraska, {Janice M.}",

note = "Funding Information: We thank Dr. Janice Bahr and Mr. H. Lee Robinson for conducting the radioimmunoassay. This work was supported by NSF Grants IBN 9310945 and IBN 9723918. S.G.W. was supported by HD07333. Address correspondence and reprint requests to Janice M. Juraska, Department of Psychology, University of Illinois, 603 E. Daniel Street, Champaign, IL 61820. Fax: (217) 244-5876. E-mail: jjuraska@s.psych.uiuc.edu.",

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AU - Warren, Stacey G.

AU - Juraska, Janice M.

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Y1 - 2000

N2 - An age-related decline in memory has been reported in male rats; however, there are few studies that have addressed these changes in aged female rats. In young female rats, hormonal cycles influence behavior. By the age of 22 months most female rats have not had regular hormonal cycles for at least 9 months. In the current study we examined how the hormonal status (persistent estrus and pseudo-pregnant) of the aged (22-24 months) female rat (Long Evans) influenced performance on a spatial version of the Morris water maze and compared this to aged male rats. Aged females in persistent estrus showed better performance on the water maze than both aged females that were pseudopregnant and aged males. Thus, postestropausal hormonal status may influence the course of aging in females. (C) 2000 Academic Press.

AB - An age-related decline in memory has been reported in male rats; however, there are few studies that have addressed these changes in aged female rats. In young female rats, hormonal cycles influence behavior. By the age of 22 months most female rats have not had regular hormonal cycles for at least 9 months. In the current study we examined how the hormonal status (persistent estrus and pseudo-pregnant) of the aged (22-24 months) female rat (Long Evans) influenced performance on a spatial version of the Morris water maze and compared this to aged male rats. Aged females in persistent estrus showed better performance on the water maze than both aged females that were pseudopregnant and aged males. Thus, postestropausal hormonal status may influence the course of aging in females. (C) 2000 Academic Press.

KW - Aging

KW - Estropause

KW - Persistent estrus

KW - Rat

KW - Sex difference

KW - Water maze

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Sex differences and estropausal phase effects on water maze performance in aged rats

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