Circadian corticosteroid periodicity: critical period for abolition by neonatal injection of corticosteroid.

Circadian variation of corticosteroid concentrations in rat plasma is suppressed if corticosteroids are administered between days 2 to 4 of neonatal life, but not if they are given between days 12 to 14 of neonatal life. This indicates a critical period for the effect of corticosteroid administration on the central nervous system pathways regulating such periodicity. Circadian periodicity of corticosteroids is not affected by neonatal administration of testosterone or reserpine.