Purpose: The aim of this study was to identify the effects of environmental factors on depressive-like behavior and memory function
during adolescence. We performed behavior tests in adolescent rats exposed to environmental enrichment, handling, and social deprivation
for eight weeks. Methods: Wistar rats were randomly assigned to control, environmental enrichment, handling, and social
deprivation groups at the age of four weeks. Results: In the forced swim test, the immobility time in the environmental enrichment
group was decreased than that in the control group (p=.038), while the immobility time in the social deprivation group was increased
than that in the control group (p=.035), the environmental enrichment group (p<.001), and the handling group (p=.001).
In the Morris water maze test, the social deprivation group had an increased latency time than the control group (p=.013) and the
environmental enrichment group (p=.001). In the passive avoidance test, the environmental enrichment group had an increased latency
time than the control group (p=.005). However, the social deprivation group had reduced latency time than the socially
housed groups (control: p=.030; environmental enrichment: p<.001; handling: p<.001). Conclusion: These findings suggest that
environmental factors play an important role in emotion and memory function during adolescence.