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Objective Controversial results have been reported regarding the effect of early maternal deprivation (MD) on emotion and memory in rats, and there are few studies about how MD affects synaptic plasticity.The present study is to explore the effect of MD on emotion and memory as well as synaptic plasticity.Methods Rat pups were separated from their mother for 3 h daily from postnatal day 1 to 21.After rats reached adulthood, behavioral tests, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and field potential recordings were used to investigate the influence of MD on emotion and cognition and the possible mechanism.Results (1) MD rats spent longer time in the open arms in elevated plus maze test.Consistent with reduced anxiety level, ELISA revealed lowered stress-induced plasma corticosterone level in MD rats.(2) MD rats exhibited fear memory deficit in passive avoidance test.(3) MD rats showed better performance in social discrimination and water maze task, which is consistent with decreased threshold of LTP induction in hippocampal CA3-CA1 pathway in MD rats.Conclusion (1) HPA axis alteration induced by early MD contributes to the reduced anxiety-like behaviors.(2) Early MD may produce differential influences on the different kinds of memory.