Aim:: This study aimed to investigate the effects of early-life stress resulting from maternal separation (MS) on urinary function and behavioral changes.Methods:: We categorized 85 rat pups into control and MS groups.Two groups of each sex during post-weaning (3 weeks old) and maturity (9 weeks old) were compared.Urinary function was evaluated using metabolic cages and continuous cystometry.
Morphological changes were assessed based on bladder weight color touch 7/97 and staining.In behavioral experiments, spatial working memory using the Y-maze and anxiety-like behavior in the elevated plus-maze were assessed.Results:: In the metabolic cage test, the single voiding volume decreased in the 3-week-old male and female MS groups.In continuous cystometry, the intercontraction interval was shortened in the 9-week-old male and female MS groups.
MS showed a significant change in bladder weight and wall thickness in 3-week-old females.Conversely, a change in bladder read more wall thickening was observed in male rats aged 9 weeks.In the Y-maze, no differences were found in alternation.In the elevated plus-maze test, the 3-week-old MS groups of both sexes had fewer entries into the open arm and slower mean velocities, while the 9-week-old groups had a greater number of entries into the open arm and a faster average speed.
Conclusion:: MS affects voiding behavior and bladder activity during the early phase of maturation.After growth, bladder overactivity and less anxiety-like hyperactivity co-exist, suggesting that early-life stress due to MS may have lasting effects on common neural circuits related to urinary function and behavior.