Work

Sex- and reward-dependent effects of early life scarcity-adversity on adolescent behavioral responses to natural rewards

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Early life adversity (ELA) increases risk for multiple psychiatric disorders that are characterized by reward-related dysfunction. Disrupted reward-related processes are commonly observed in humans and rodents following ELA. Rodent studies have shown sex differences in response to natural and drug rewards at baseline, following ELA, and in rodent models of psychiatric diseases that are potentiated by ELA. Yet, less is known regarding the development of ELA-induced alterations in reward-related responses, including how these may differ by sex. To this end, we tested behavioral responses to consummatory and social rewards in control and scarcity-adversity male and female rats using sucrose preference, palatable food consumption, and social play tests during peripuberty and adolescence. Our results suggest no impact of early life scarcity-adversity during peripuberty, but sex- and reward-dependent adolescent effects in which females display reduced sucrose preference whereas males display lower levels of social play solicitations (i.e., dorsal contacts). These findings suggest age-, sex-, and reward-specific effects of early life scarcity-adversity in response to consummatory and social rewards, which appear to emerge during adolescence.

Source: Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience

DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2025.1659339

Authors: Melissa G. Salazar, Christine H. Nguyen, Sasha Oak, Jeffy Jackson, Millie Rincón-Cortés

Institution: The University of Texas at Dallas

Language: English

Topic: Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior

Subfield: Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience

Field: Neuroscience

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,801