The Timing of Pubertal Onset Affects Adults Anxiety Behavior in a Sex-Specific Manner

Author(s)

Evan RaubenoltFollow

Abstract

This study aims to look at the relationship between the timing of pubertal onset and its long-term effects on adult anxiety behavior in rats. Though the topic of pubertal onset has been frequently discussed in developmental research, its exact effects have been inconsistent. Human models have shown that early and late maturing males are associated with a notable increase in adult anxiety behavior, while in rat models, similar sex-specific effects regarding anxiety have been demonstrated, though those studies focus on a causal relationship between exposure to stress and age of pubertal onset. This study first aims to examine that relationship by analyzing the age of pubertal onset and long-term anxiety behavior in adult rats, comparing between sexes. This will be done by utilizing control animal data collected over five different projects. This includes information regarding sex, age of pubertal onset, and results from common anxiety tests such as the elevated plus maze and open field test. Age of pubertal onset and anxiety behaviors will be analyzed using correlation matrices between sexes to measure any possible relationships. The results showed a significant sex-specific effect of age of pubertal onset on increased anxiety behaviors in males. The second section of this study will examine a similar causal relationship to that discussed in prior rat models, but will focus on prenatal exposures to adverse environmental stimuli. This will be in the form of corn supplements given to pregnant dams that contain harmful chemicals such as heavy metals, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), and Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs). The data for this section will come from a project that outlined experimental groups exposed prenatally to different corn supplements grown from soil that contains harmful chemicals. Relevant data on sex, age of pubertal onset, and adult anxiety behaviors were also collected. The results showed no significant effects of experimental groups on the age of pubertal onset or on adult anxiety behaviors.

Department

Psychology

Major

Psychology

First Advisor

Dr. Jari Willing

First Advisor Department

Psychology

Second Advisor

Dr. James Metcalf

Second Advisor Department

Biological Sciences

Publication Date

Winter 12-8-2025

Repository Citation

Raubenolt, Evan, "The Timing of Pubertal Onset Affects Adults Anxiety Behavior in a Sex-Specific Manner" (2025). Honors Projects. 1080.
https://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/honorsprojects/1080