Differential Effects of a Stress on Liver Enzymes in Adult and Infant Rats

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Abstract
Infantrats, 4 and 8 days after birth, respond to the stress of 30 min. on a noisy reciprocating shaker with a large increase in liver aromatic amino acid transaminase activities. Adult rats exposed to the same stress do not exhibit this change. In the adult rat the inducing effects of cortisol on transaminase activities are blocked by this stress. These results suggest the activation of a mechanism(s) in the adult rat which opposes the enzyme inducing effects of cortisol. This mechanism is non-functional during early post-natal life. The half-life of cortisol is considerably longer in the infant rat than in the adult.