Figure 2

First and third classes of variability. In this experiment male and female rats were exposed in the F0 generation to the endocrine disrupting compound vinclozolin (Lineage) followed by the F3 generation exposed to chronic restraint stress (CRS) during adolescence (Stress). Circulating levels of corticosterone (CORT) were measured in adulthood. Note that the large sex differences in basal CORT levels (hatched line in females in red, hatched line in males in blue). Comparing the effects of CRS alone it becomes apparent that Stress during adolescence decreases CORT in both sexes, with males affected more than females. The effect of vinclozolin three generations previously (Lineage) has no effect. The combination of both conditions (V-S), illustrates how Lineagepotentiates the effects of Stress in females while in males, it ameliorates the effects of Stress.