Meeting Abstract

127.2  Tuesday, Jan. 7 13:45  Developmental exposure to corticosterone and adult challenge with endotoxin have interactive effects on behavior in zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) GRINDSTAFF, JL*; WASELIK, M; Oklahoma State University, Stillwater; Oklahoma State University, Stillwater jen.grindstaff@okstate.edu

Exposure to parasites, immune challenges, and other stressors during development has the potential to alter personality expression in adulthood, but previous research has generally not addressed the potential interactive effects between developmental and adult stress exposure on adult personality and behavior. The objective of this study was to assess the potential for interactive effects between exposure to stressors during development and adulthood on two aspects of personality, activity and boldness, in a captive population of zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata). We used oral dosing with corticosterone (CORT) to simulate natural activation of the stress response and challenge with the endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to simulate exposure to a bacterial challenge. CORT treatment was administered during development and LPS challenge was administered in adulthood. Developmental CORT treatment reduced the boldness of females in adulthood, but did not impact male boldness. LPS challenge in adulthood reduced the activity levels of females, but male activity levels were not significantly affected. Finally, birds were bolder if treated developmentally with CORT and not challenged with LPS as adults or if they were not exposed to CORT during development but were challenged with LPS in adulthood. This demonstrates that exposure to stressors during development can have persistent effects on adult behavioral expression and can also have interactive effects with exposure to stressors during adulthood.