The effect of prenatal administration of amphetamine upon the offspring’s cognitive-intellectual functioning at adult levels was investigated. Three groups of Max hooded rats were used, each composed of seven females and twelve males. One group was subjected to prenatal injections of amphetamine, one group received injections of saline, and the final group received no treatment. After the subjects reached adulthood they were presented with a series of complex mazes, and the dependent variable was the number of errors committed during the series. The data were analyzed by an analysis of variance of a 3 x 2 factorial design. The results indicated that there was a sex-specific response to the amphetamine and saline injections. These treatments significantly improved the performance of the males when compared to the no treatment males, but had no effect on the females. The amphetamine and saline injection produced the same effect as amphetamine on all subjects. Based on these results, an attempt was made to explain the mode of action of amphetamine and stress on the developing fetus.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:WKU/oai:digitalcommons.wku.edu:theses-2902 |
| Date | 01 July 1978 |
| Creators | Cole, Theodore |
| Publisher | TopSCHOLAR® |
| Source Sets | Western Kentucky University Theses |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | Masters Theses & Specialist Projects |
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