Sex-dependent critical periods influence adult thermal nociceptive response

Microglial-mediated synaptic pruning occurs throughout adolescence, with temporal patterns differing in male and female rats. The disruption of this process during critical periods can lead to permanent changes in neural circuitry. In this seminar, we will show that exposure to morphine during late adolescence leads to changes in analgesic response to morphine in adulthood, and does so in a sex-specific manner.