biostudies-literatureUnknown16Faraji JImportant factors influencing the outcome of animal experiments in preclinical research are often overlooked. In the current study, the reaction of female and male rats toward the biological sex of a human experimenter was investigated in terms of anxiety-like behaviors and physiological stress responses, as measured by infrared (IR) thermography, circulating corticosterone (CORT) and oxytocin levels. Female rats displayed consistently exacerbated anxiety-related behaviors along with elevated body surface temperature during repeated exposure to male experimenters. Experimental stress further intensified thermal responses to a male experimenter, especially in female rats. The behavioral responses to a male experimenter in females were associated with higher circulating CORT and lower oxytocFrontiers in neuroscience965500https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9354940biostudies-literatureSex-specific stress and biobehavioral responses to human experimenters in rats.PMC9354940Ambeskovic MWhitten KToly JLopes NAFaraji JOlson DMSauter NMetz GASfalseSex-specific stress and biobehavioral responses to human experimenters in rats.Important factors influencing the outcome of animal experiments in preclinical research are often overlooked. In the current study, the reaction of female and male rats toward the biological sex of a human experimenter was investigated in terms of anxiety-like behaviors and physiological stress responses, as measured by infrared (IR) thermography, circulating corticosterone (CORT) and oxytocin levels. Female rats displayed consistently exacerbated anxiety-related behaviors along with elevated body surface temperature during repeated exposure to male experimenters. Experimental stress further intensified thermal responses to a male experimenter, especially in female rats. The behavioral responses to a male experimenter in females were associated with higher circulating CORT and lower oxytoc2022-01-01T00:00:00Z20222025-04-26T14:16:26.868Z2025-02-19T05:05:38.906ZS-EPMC93549403593789410.3389/fnins.2022.965500