Stress during development alters anxiety-like behavior and hippocampal neurotransmission in male and female rats

► Maternal deprivation at 11 days increases anxiety-like behavior and corticosterone levels. ► Maternally-deprived males exhibit a major reduction of hippocampal taurine content. ► Maternally-deprived females show a major reduction of GABA content in the hippocampus. ► Reduction of inhibitory amino acids may represent a vulnerability factor for anxiety-like behavior.