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 | |
| 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