The second test found that PNS rats were more aggressive in behavior when confronted by a male rat. The third test found that PNS rats were more likely to leave the male side of the chamber after sexual contact. .
Both studies determined whether prenatal stress alters reproductive responses of rats in behavioral estrus and paced mating of hormone-primed rats by using a bright light and restraint test. The differences in Frye's study was the rats were under the light for 45 minutes once a day for 6 days while we had the rat under the light for 30 minutes three times a day for a week. Frye also had 3 separate tests to determine if PNS rats were effected rather than us only using one test. Also Frye used forty rats were we only used 4. Another difference is Frye tried to amplify stress of the female off springs by restraining them and exposing them to 20 minutes of bright light before they started the tests. The one major difference was that we used male off springs were Frye used female off springs. This allows us to get two different views of how prenatal stress influences off springs in both sexes. Also in our research we had the pregnant mother be exposed more to the light throughout the day hoping it will increase the rats stress allowing us to get a more accurate result. .
Male offspring's that were prenatally stressed will have fewer mounts resulting in a long latency period than those who were not prenatally stressed. .
Methods.
Participants.
There were four male rates used 2 prenatally stress and 2 not prenatally stressed. With 4 regular female rats.
In our study we used 4 male rats to determine if prenatal stress alters reproductive responses of rats in behavioral estrus and paced mating of hormone-primed rats. We did this by stressing the mothers of two of the offspring's during the last week of their pregnancy by putting them in restraining tubes under heat lamps for 30 minutes three times a day.