Pituitary grafts and behavior in mice. Effects of sex of donor and number of pituitary grafts on exploratory and learning abilities

Abstract

The effects of ectopic pituitary grafts, sex of pituitary donor, and number of isografts (one or two) were examined in intact phenotypically normal male mice of the Snell dwarf strain, using a battery of tests designed to assess exploration and learning-related behavioral processes. Results show that neither sex of pituitary donor nor number of grafts affected behavioral responses to pituitary grafts. Ectopic pituitary grafts increased the level of exploratory activities assessed in a novelty preference test and in the hole board test, facilitated the retention of a step-through type passive avoidance task—contrasting with results in rats—but did not affect spatial orientation in a spontaneous alternation and a water escape task. The results argue for a global effect of the graft, inducing increased emotional reactivity.