Anesthesia with etomidate for 2 h at postnatal days (P) 4, 5 or 6 followed by maternal separation for 3 h at P10 lead to increased serum levels of corticosterone after physical restraint for 30 min in adult male and female rats. These effects were alleviated by pretreatment with bumetanide prior to anesthesia with etomidate. Shown are the respective levels of serum corticosterone in male (A) and female (B) rats across each collection point, as well as the total corticosterone response (AUCg in male (C) and female (D) rats. Morning measurements were taken as baselines for calculations of the total corticosterone responses. Data are means ± SEM from 9 male rats per treatment group and from 6 female rats per treatment group, except the Bumetanide (BU) + Etomidate (ET) + Maternal separation (SEP) group, which had 7 female rats. *P<0.05 vs. Control, SEP, and BU + ET + SEP groups. #P<0.05 vs. SEP, and BU + ET + SEP groups.