Date of Thesis
2010
Description
Dexamethasone is routinely administered to women at risk for a preterm birth in order to enhance fetal lung development and reduce uterine contractions. Research has demonstrated possible behavioral abnormalities in adulthood as a result of dexamethasone treatment. Using nonlinear mixed effects modeling, this study found thatprenatal dexamethasone treatment impaired spatial learning and memory of adult male Sprague-Dawley rats. Prenatal dexamethasone treatment also led to more anxiety related behaviors on Elevated Plus Maze testing 1.5 hours after a stress challenge. Because theassumptions underlying the independent samples t-test were violated, the randomization test was used to compare groups on the Elevated Plus Maze.
Keywords
Prenatal Dexamethasone, Glucocorticoids, Stress Challenge, Nonlinear Mixed Effects Modeling, Randomization Test
Access Type
Masters Thesis
Degree Type
Master of Science
Major
Biology
First Advisor
Kathleen Creed Page
Recommended Citation
Donohoe, Joseph John, "Spatial Learning and Stress Response of Male Rats Prenatally Exposed to Dexamethasone" (2010). Master’s Theses. 17.
https://digitalcommons.bucknell.edu/masters_theses/17