Rat neonates experienced increased physical activity (EX), handling (HAND) or no treatment (CON) from post-partum day 5 through 15. A subgroup was sampled at day 65. In males, the neonatal activity treatment resulted in lower circulating levels of IL-6, TNFα and IL-1β at 60 days of age. Plasma levels of IL-6 were also lower in 65 day EX females. Both male and female HAND rats demonstrated IL-6 levels that were lower than CON. n = 8; *, P<0.05 vs. CON; ‡, P<0.05 vs. HAND.