Physiological damage under emotional stress as a function of early experience (1954)

Weininger, O.

Abstract

Male Wistar rats were gentled for 10 minutes per day for 21 days, beginning when they were 23 days old. A control group was not gentled. At 44 and 79 days old, gentled rats weighe sginificantly more. All rats were subjected to a severe stressor at 79 days old. Post-mortem analysis showed that less damage had been caused to the cardiovascular syatem (severe heart damage) and gastrointestinal system (stomach ulcers) of gentled rats. Gentling has a protective effect.