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Aykan D, Genc M, Unal G. Environmental enrichment enhances the antidepressant effect of ketamine and ameliorates spatial memory deficits in adult rats. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2024; 240:173790. [PMID: 38761992 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2024.173790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2024] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024]
Abstract
Ketamine is a rapid-acting antidepressant associated with various cognitive side effects. To mitigate these side effects while enhancing efficacy, it can be co-administered with other antidepressants. In our study, we adopted a similar strategy by combining ketamine with environmental enrichment, a potent sensory-motor paradigm, in adult male Wistar rats. We divided the animals into four groups based on a combination of housing conditions and ketamine versus vehicle injections. The groups included those housed in standard cages or an enriched environment for 50 days, which encompassed a 13-day-long behavioral testing period. Each group received either two doses of ketamine (20 mg/kg, IP) or saline as a vehicle. We tested the animals in the novel object recognition test (NORT), forced swim test (FST), open field test (OFT), elevated plus maze (EPM), and Morris water maze (MWM), which was followed by ex vivo c-Fos immunohistochemistry. We observed that combining environmental enrichment with ketamine led to a synergistic antidepressant effect. Environmental enrichment also ameliorated the spatial memory deficits caused by ketamine in the MWM. There was enhanced neuronal activity in the habenula of the enrichment only group following the probe trial of the MWM. In contrast, no differential activity was observed in enriched animals that received ketamine injections. The present study showed how environmental enrichment can enhance the antidepressant properties of ketamine while reducing some of its side effects, highlighting the potential of combining pharmacological and sensory-motor manipulations in the treatment of mood disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deren Aykan
- Behavioral Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Boğaziçi University, 34342 Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Mert Genc
- Behavioral Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Boğaziçi University, 34342 Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Gunes Unal
- Behavioral Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Boğaziçi University, 34342 Istanbul, Turkey.
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2
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Gatto E, Lucon-Xiccato T, Bertolucci C. Environmental conditions shape learning in larval zebrafish. Behav Processes 2024; 218:105045. [PMID: 38692461 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2024.105045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2024] [Revised: 04/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
Growing evidence reveals notable phenotypic plasticity in cognition among teleost fishes. One compelling example is the positive impact of enriched environments on learning performance. Most studies on this effect have focused on juvenile or later life stages, potentially overlooking the importance of early life plasticity. To address this gap, we investigated whether cognitive plasticity in response to environmental factors emerges during the larval stage in zebrafish. Our findings indicate that larvae exposed to an enriched environment after hatching exhibited enhanced habituation learning performance compared to their counterparts raised in a barren environment. This work underscores the presence of developmental phenotypic plasticity in cognition among teleost fish, extending its influence to the very earliest stages of an individual's life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elia Gatto
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy; Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
| | - Tyrone Lucon-Xiccato
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Cristiano Bertolucci
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
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3
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Bijlsma A, Birza EE, Pimentel TC, Maranus JPM, van Gaans MJJM, Lozeman-van T Klooster JG, Baars AJM, Achterberg EJM, Lesscher HMB, Wierenga CJ, Vanderschuren LJMJ. Opportunities for risk-taking during play alters cognitive performance and prefrontal inhibitory signalling in rats of both sexes. Eur J Neurosci 2024; 59:2748-2765. [PMID: 38511534 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.16313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
Social play behaviour is a rewarding activity that can entail risks, thus allowing young individuals to test the limits of their capacities and to train their cognitive and emotional adaptability to challenges. Here, we tested in rats how opportunities for risk-taking during play affect the development of cognitive and emotional capacities and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) function, a brain structure important for risk-based decision making. Male and female rats were housed socially or social play-deprived (SPD) between postnatal day (P)21 and P42. During this period, half of both groups were daily exposed to a high-risk play environment. Around P85, all rats were tested for cognitive performance and emotional behaviour after which inhibitory currents were recorded in layer 5 pyramidal neurons in mPFC slices. We show that playing in a high-risk environment altered cognitive flexibility in both sexes and improved behavioural inhibition in males. High-risk play altered anxiety-like behaviour in the elevated plus maze in males and in the open field in females, respectively. SPD affected cognitive flexibility in both sexes and decreased anxiety-like behaviour in the elevated plus maze in females. We found that synaptic inhibitory currents in the mPFC were increased in male, but not female, rats after high-risk play, while SPD lowered prefrontal cortex (PFC) synaptic inhibition in both sexes. Together, our data show that exposure to risks during play affects the development of cognition, emotional behaviour and inhibition in the mPFC. Furthermore, our study suggests that the opportunity to take risks during play cannot substitute for social play behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ate Bijlsma
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Section Animals in Science and Society, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Evelien E Birza
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Section Animals in Science and Society, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Tara C Pimentel
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Section Animals in Science and Society, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Janneke P M Maranus
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Section Animals in Science and Society, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Marieke J J M van Gaans
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Section Animals in Science and Society, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - José G Lozeman-van T Klooster
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Section Animals in Science and Society, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Annemarie J M Baars
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Section Animals in Science and Society, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - E J Marijke Achterberg
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Section Animals in Science and Society, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Heidi M B Lesscher
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Section Animals in Science and Society, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Corette J Wierenga
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Donders Institute and Faculty of Science, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Louk J M J Vanderschuren
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Section Animals in Science and Society, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Birgersson L, Odenlund S, Sturve J. Effects of Environmental Enrichment on Exposure to Human-Relevant Mixtures of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals in Zebrafish. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:1296. [PMID: 38731300 PMCID: PMC11083384 DOI: 10.3390/ani14091296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2024] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Fish models used for chemical exposure in toxicological studies are normally kept in barren tanks without any structural environmental enrichment. Here, we tested the combined effects of environmental enrichment and exposure to two mixtures of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in zebrafish. Firstly, we assessed whether developmental exposure to an EDC mixture (MIX G1) combined with rearing the fish in an enriched environment influenced behaviour later in life. This was evaluated using locomotion tracking one month after exposure, showing a significant interaction effect between enrichment and the MIX G1 exposure on the measured locomotion parameters. After three months, we assessed behaviour using custom-made behaviour tanks, and found that enrichment influenced swimming activity. Control fish from the enriched environment were more active than control fish from the barren environment. Secondly, we exposed adult zebrafish to a separate EDC mixture (MIX G0) after rearing them in a barren or enriched environment. Behaviour and hepatic mRNA expression for thyroid-related genes were assessed. There was a significant interaction effect between exposure and enrichment on swimming activity and an effect of environment on latency to approach the group of conspecifics, where enriched fish took more time to approach the group, possibly indicating that they were less anxious. Hepatic gene expression of a thyroid-related gene (thrb) was significantly affected by EDC exposure, while enrichment had no discernible impact on the expression of the measured genes. In conclusion, environmental enrichment is important to consider when studying the effects of EDCs in fish.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Joachim Sturve
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Box 463, SE-405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden; (L.B.); (S.O.)
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von der Beck B, Wissmann A, Tolba RH, Dammann P, Hilken G. What Can Laboratory Animal Facility Managers Do to Improve the Welfare of Laboratory Animals and Laboratory Animal Facility Staff? A German Perspective. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:1136. [PMID: 38612375 PMCID: PMC11010866 DOI: 10.3390/ani14071136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2024] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Laboratory animal facility managers must ensure that animal experiments can be carried out under optimal scientific conditions, that all legal requirements are met, and that animal welfare is maximized. Animal experimentation is stressful not only for the animals involved but also for the people who maintain these animals or carry out the experiments. Many of those involved find themselves in a constant conflict between scientific necessity, care, and harm. Under the term Culture of Care, procedures have been developed to reduce the burden of animal experimentation on the animals and the staff involved. The focus here is on what laboratory animal facility managers can do to improve the welfare of laboratory animals and the people working with them. Exemplary measures are the improvement of the housing conditions of laboratory animals, the introduction of uniform handling measures, clear and transparent structures via a quality management system, implementation of a no-blame culture of error (e.g., via Critical Incident Reporting System in Laboratory Animal Science [CIRS-LAS]), and open and respectful communication with all parties involved in animal experimentation, including the public and representatives of the authorities (public webpage, open house policy). The 6 Rs must be considered at all times: replacement, reduction, refinement, respect, responsibility, and reproducibility. We are writing this article from the perspective of laboratory animal facility managers in Germany.
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Affiliation(s)
- Birte von der Beck
- Central Animal Laboratory, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45147 Essen, Germany; (B.v.d.B.); (A.W.)
| | - Andreas Wissmann
- Central Animal Laboratory, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45147 Essen, Germany; (B.v.d.B.); (A.W.)
| | - Rene H. Tolba
- Institute for Laboratory Animal Science & Experimental Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, 52062 Aachen, Germany
| | - Philip Dammann
- Central Animal Laboratory, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45147 Essen, Germany; (B.v.d.B.); (A.W.)
| | - Gero Hilken
- Central Animal Laboratory, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45147 Essen, Germany; (B.v.d.B.); (A.W.)
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Dandi E, Kesidou E, Simeonidou C, Spandou E, Grigoriadis N, Tata DA. Sex-Specific Differences and the Role of Environmental Enrichment in the Expression of Hippocampal CB 1 Receptors following Chronic Unpredictable Stress. Brain Sci 2024; 14:357. [PMID: 38672009 PMCID: PMC11047861 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci14040357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2024] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Stress-related mental disorders have become increasingly prevalent, thus endangering mental health worldwide. Exploring stress-associated brain alterations is vital for understanding the possible neurobiological mechanisms underlying these changes. Based on existing evidence, the brain endogenous cannabinoid system (ECS) plays a significant role in the stress response, and disruptions in its function are associated with the neurobiology of various stress-related disorders. This study primarily focuses on investigating the impact of chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) on the expression of hippocampal cannabinoid type 1 (CB1) receptors, part of the ECS, in adult male and female Wistar rats. Additionally, it explores whether environmental enrichment (EE) initiated during adolescence could mitigate the CUS-associated alterations in CB1 expression. Wistar rats, shortly after weaning, were placed in either standard housing (SH) or EE conditions for a duration of 10 weeks. On postnatal day 66, specific subgroups of SH or EE animals underwent a 4-week CUS protocol. Western blot (WB) analysis was conducted in the whole hippocampus of the left brain hemisphere to assess total CB1 protein expression, while immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed on the right hemisphere to estimate the expression of CB1 receptors in certain hippocampal areas (i.e., CA1, CA3 and dentate gyrus-DG). The WB analysis revealed no statistically significant differences in total CB1 protein levels among the groups; however, reduced CB1 expression was found in specific hippocampal sub-regions using IHC. Specifically, CUS significantly decreased CB1 receptor expression in the CA1 and DG of both sexes, whereas in CA3 the CUS-associated decrease was limited to SH males. Interestingly, EE housing proved protective against these reductions. These findings suggest a region and sex-specific endocannabinoid response to chronic stress, emphasizing the role of positive early experiences in the protection of the adolescent brain against adverse conditions later in life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evgenia Dandi
- Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience, School of Psychology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece;
| | - Evangelia Kesidou
- Laboratory of Experimental Neurology and Neuroimmunology, 2nd Department of Neurology, AHEPA University Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54636 Thessaloniki, Greece; (E.K.); (N.G.)
- Laboratory of Physiology, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (C.S.); (E.S.)
| | - Constantina Simeonidou
- Laboratory of Physiology, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (C.S.); (E.S.)
| | - Evangelia Spandou
- Laboratory of Physiology, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (C.S.); (E.S.)
| | - Nikolaos Grigoriadis
- Laboratory of Experimental Neurology and Neuroimmunology, 2nd Department of Neurology, AHEPA University Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54636 Thessaloniki, Greece; (E.K.); (N.G.)
| | - Despina A. Tata
- Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience, School of Psychology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece;
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Kitchenham L, MacLellan A, Paletta P, Patel A, Choleris E, Mason G. Do housing-induced changes in brain activity cause stereotypic behaviours in laboratory mice? Behav Brain Res 2024; 462:114862. [PMID: 38216059 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2024.114862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2024] [Indexed: 01/14/2024]
Abstract
Abnormal repetitive stereotypic behaviours (SBs) (e.g. pacing, body-rocking) are common in animals with poor welfare (e.g. socially isolated/in barren housing). But how (or even whether) poor housing alters animals' brains to induce SBs remains uncertain. To date, there is little evidence for environmental effects on the brain that also correlate with individual SB performance. Using female mice from two strains (SB-prone DBA/2s; SB-resistant C57/BL/6s), displaying two forms of SB (route-tracing; bar-mouthing), we investigated how housing (conventional laboratory conditions vs. well-resourced 'enriched' cages) affects long-term neuronal activity as assessed via cytochrome oxidase histochemistry in 13 regions of interest (across cortex, striatum, basal ganglia and thalamus). Conventional housing reduced activity in the cortex and striatum. However, DBA mice had no cortical or striatal differences from C57 mice (just greater basal ganglia output activity, independent of housing). Neural correlates for individual levels of bar-mouthing (positive correlations in the substantia nigra and thalamus) were also independent of housing; while route-tracing levels had no clear neural correlates at all. Thus conventional laboratory housing can suppress cortico-striatal activity, but such changes are unrelated to SB (since not mirrored by congruent individual and strain differences). Furthermore, the neural correlates of SB at individual and strain levels seem to reflect underlying predispositions, not housing-mediated changes. To aid further work, hypothesis-generating model fit analyses highlighted this unexplained housing effect, and also suggested several regions of interest across cortex, striatum, thalamus and substantia nigra for future investigation (ideally with improved power to reduce risks of Type II error).
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsey Kitchenham
- Campbell Centre for the Study of Animal Welfare/Dept. of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Aileen MacLellan
- Campbell Centre for the Study of Animal Welfare/Dept. of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada; Canadian Council on Animal Care; Ottawa Hospital Research Institute; University of Ottawa, Dept. of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine
| | - Pietro Paletta
- Dept. of Psychology, Neuroscience and Applied Cognitive Sciences, University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ashutosh Patel
- Dept. of Biomedical Sciences, University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Elena Choleris
- Dept. of Psychology, Neuroscience and Applied Cognitive Sciences, University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Georgia Mason
- Campbell Centre for the Study of Animal Welfare/Dept. of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
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Santacà M, Gatto E, Dadda M, Bruzzone M, Dal Maschio M, Bisazza A. Exploring the Importance of Environmental Complexity for Newly Hatched Zebrafish. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:1031. [PMID: 38612270 PMCID: PMC11011065 DOI: 10.3390/ani14071031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2024] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
The effects of an early impoverished social or physical environment on vertebrate neural development and cognition has been known for decades. While existing studies have focused on the long-term effects, measuring adult cognitive phenotypes, studies on the effects of environmental complexity on the early stages of development are lacking. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) hatchlings are assumed to have minimal interaction with their environment and are routinely reared in small, bare containers. To investigate the effects of being raised under such conditions on development of behaviour and cognition, hatchlings housed for 10 days in either an enriched or a standard environment underwent two cognitive tasks. The results were mixed. Subjects of the two treatments did not differ in performance when required to discriminate two areas. Conversely, we found a significant effect in a number discrimination task, with subjects from impoverished condition performing significantly worse. In both experiments, larvae reared in impoverished environment showed a reduced locomotor activity. Given the effects that enrichment appears to exert on larvae, a third experiment explored whether hatchlings exhibit a spontaneous preference for more complex environments. When offered a choice between a bare setting and one with objects of different shapes and colors, larvae spent over 70% of time in the enriched sector. Deepening these effects of an early impoverished environment on cognitive development is crucial for the welfare of captive zebrafish populations and for enhancing the quality and reliability of studies on larval zebrafish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Santacà
- Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, 1030 Vienna, Austria
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (M.D.)
| | - Elia Gatto
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Science, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy;
- Department of Life Science and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Marco Dadda
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (M.D.)
| | - Matteo Bruzzone
- Padua Neuroscience Center, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy (M.D.M.)
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Marco Dal Maschio
- Padua Neuroscience Center, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy (M.D.M.)
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Angelo Bisazza
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (M.D.)
- Padua Neuroscience Center, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy (M.D.M.)
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Marx H, Krahe TE, Wolmarans DW. Large nesting expression in deer mice remains stable under conditions of visual deprivation despite heightened limbic involvement: Perspectives on compulsive-like behavior. J Neurosci Res 2024; 102:e25320. [PMID: 38509778 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.25320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2023] [Revised: 02/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
Visual stimuli and limbic activation varyingly influence obsessive-compulsive symptom expression and so impact treatment outcomes. Some symptom phenotypes, for example, covert repugnant thoughts, are likely less sensitive to sensory stimuli compared to symptoms with an extrinsic focus, that is, symptoms related to contamination, safety, and "just-right-perceptions." Toward an improved understanding of the neurocognitive underpinnings of obsessive-compulsive psychobiology, work in naturalistic animal model systems is useful. Here, we explored the impact of visual feedback and limbic processes on 24 normal (NNB) and large (LNB) nesting deer mice, respectively (as far as possible, equally distributed between sexes). Briefly, after behavioral classification into either the NNB or LNB cohorts, mice of each cohort were separated into two groups each and assessed for nesting expression under either standard light conditions or conditions of complete visual deprivation (VD). Nesting outcomes were assessed in terms of size and neatness. After nesting assessment completion, mice were euthanized, and samples of frontal-cortical and hippocampal tissues were collected to determine serotonin and noradrenaline concentrations. Our results show that LNB, as opposed to NNB, represents an inflexible and excessive behavioral phenotype that is not dependent on visually guided action-outcome processing, and that it associates with increased frontal-cortical and hippocampal noradrenaline concentrations, irrespective of lighting condition. Collectively, the current results are informing of the neurocognitive underpinnings of nesting behavior. It also provides a valuable foundation for continued investigations into the noradrenergic mechanisms that may influence the development and promulgation of excessive, rigid, and inflexible behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harry Marx
- Center of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
| | - Thomas E Krahe
- Department of Psychology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - De Wet Wolmarans
- Center of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
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Sant'Anna MB, Kimura LF, Vieira WF, Zambelli VO, Novaes LS, Hösch NG, Picolo G. Environmental factors and their impact on chronic pain development and maintenance. Phys Life Rev 2024; 48:176-197. [PMID: 38320380 DOI: 10.1016/j.plrev.2024.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
It is more than recognized and accepted that the environment affects the physiological responses of all living things, from bacteria to superior vertebrates, constituting an important factor in the evolution of all species. Environmental influences range from natural processes such as sunlight, seasons of the year, and rest to complex processes like stress and other mood disorders, infections, and air pollution, being all of them influenced by how each creature deals with them. In this chapter, it will be discussed how some of the environmental elements affect directly or indirectly neuropathic pain, a type of chronic pain caused by a lesion or disease of the somatosensory nervous system. For that, it was considered the edge of knowledge in translational research, thus including data from human and experimental animals as well as the applicability of such findings.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Louise Faggionato Kimura
- Laboratory of Pain and Signaling, Butantan Institute, São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Pharmacology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, USA
| | - Willians Fernando Vieira
- Laboratory of Functional Neuroanatomy of Pain, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Leonardo Santana Novaes
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Gisele Picolo
- Laboratory of Pain and Signaling, Butantan Institute, São Paulo, Brazil.
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Rentsch AK, Harlander A, Niel L, Siegford JM, Widowski TM. Raising laying hens: housing complexity and genetic strain affect startle reflex amplitude and behavioural response to fear-inducing stimuli. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2024; 11:231075. [PMID: 38511084 PMCID: PMC10951723 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.231075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/10/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
Individual variation in fearfulness can be modified during ontogeny, and high levels of fear can affect animal welfare. We asked whether early-life environmental complexity and genetic strain affect fear behaviour in young laying hens (pullets). Four replicates of brown (B) and white (W) genetic strains (breeds) of layers were each raised in four environmental treatments (housing): conventional cages (Conv) and different rearing aviaries with increasing space and complexity (Low < Mid < High). We used a startle reflex test (weeks 4 and 14) to measure startle amplitude and autonomic response (i.e. comb temperature). A combination of novel arena (NA) and novel object (NO) tests was used (week 14) to assess NA exploration and alertness, latency to approach the centre and initial NO avoidance and investigation. Housing × strain affected startle amplitude (B-Conv, B-High < B-Low, B-Mid; B > W; no housing effect in W) but not autonomic response. Fear behaviour was affected by housing (NA exploration, investigation: Conv < Low, Mid, High; NO avoidance: Conv, High < Low, Mid), strain (NA alertness: B > W, NO avoidance: W > B) and their interaction (NA centre approach: B-Conv < all other groups). We present evidence for strain-specific fear responses depending on early experience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana K. Rentsch
- Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, OntarioN1G 2W1, Canada
- Campbell Centre for the Study of Animal Welfare, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, OntarioN1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Alexandra Harlander
- Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, OntarioN1G 2W1, Canada
- Campbell Centre for the Study of Animal Welfare, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, OntarioN1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Lee Niel
- Campbell Centre for the Study of Animal Welfare, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, OntarioN1G 2W1, Canada
- Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, OntarioN1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Janice M. Siegford
- Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, 474 South Shaw Lane, East Lansing, MI48824-1225, USA
| | - Tina M. Widowski
- Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, OntarioN1G 2W1, Canada
- Campbell Centre for the Study of Animal Welfare, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, OntarioN1G 2W1, Canada
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12
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Li P, Yan Z. An epigenetic mechanism of social isolation stress in adolescent female mice. Neurobiol Stress 2024; 29:100601. [PMID: 38213831 PMCID: PMC10776430 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2023.100601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Social isolation during adolescence can increase the risk of mental disorders. Epigenetic changes induced by chronic social isolation may serve as a mechanism underlying emotional disturbances. To test this, we exposed female mice to a post-weaning 6-week social isolation (SI) stress. We found the significantly increased methylation of histone H3 at lysine 9 (H3K9), a histone mark linked to gene repression, as well as the increased H3K9 methyltransferases SUV39H1 and SETDB1, in prefrontal cortex (PFC) of SI females. To find out potential downstream genes affected by this epigenetic alteration, we examined genes linked to neuronal and synaptic functions. Activity-dependent genes, including Arc, c-Fos and Npas4, were significantly reduced in PFC of SI females, correlated with the increased H3K9me2 occupancy around Arc enhancer. Treatment of SI females with UNC0642, a selective inhibitor of H3K9 methylation, significantly attenuated the anxiety-like behavior and elevated Arc expression. These results have revealed an epigenetic mechanism and intervention avenue for anxiety induced by chronic social isolation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei Li
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA
| | - Zhen Yan
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA
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13
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Ishiwari K, King CP, Martin CD, Tripi JA, George AM, Lamparelli AC, Chitre AS, Polesskaya O, Richards JB, Solberg Woods LC, Gancarz AM, Palmer AA, Dietz DM, Mitchell SH, Meyer PJ. Environmental enrichment promotes adaptive responding during tests of behavioral regulation in male heterogeneous stock rats. Sci Rep 2024; 14:4182. [PMID: 38378969 PMCID: PMC10879139 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-53943-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Organisms must regulate their behavior flexibly in the face of environmental challenges. Failure can lead to a host of maladaptive behavioral traits associated with a range of neuropsychiatric disorders, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism, and substance use disorders. This maladaptive dysregulation of behavior is influenced by genetic and environmental factors. For example, environmental enrichment produces beneficial neurobehavioral effects in animal models of such disorders. The present study determined the effects of environmental enrichment on a range of measures related to behavioral regulation using a large cohort of male, outbred heterogeneous stock (HS) rats as subjects. Subjects were reared from late adolescence onwards either in pairs in standard housing with minimal enrichment (n = 200) or in groups of 16 in a highly enriched environment consisting of a large multi-level cage filled with toys, running wheels, and shelters (n = 64). Rats were subjected to a battery of tests, including: (i) locomotor response to novelty, (ii) light reinforcement, (iii) social reinforcement, (iv) reaction time, (v) a patch-depletion foraging test, (vi) Pavlovian conditioned approach, (vii) conditioned reinforcement, and (viii) cocaine conditioned cue preference. Results indicated that rats housed in the enriched environment were able to filter out irrelevant stimuli more effectively and thereby regulate their behavior more efficiently than standard-housing rats. The dramatic impact of environmental enrichment suggests that behavioral studies using standard housing conditions may not generalize to more complex environments that may be more ethologically relevant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keita Ishiwari
- Clinical and Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Christopher P King
- Clinical and Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
- Department of Psychology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14260, USA
| | - Connor D Martin
- Clinical and Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Jordan A Tripi
- Department of Psychology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14260, USA
| | - Anthony M George
- Clinical and Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | | | - Apurva S Chitre
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Oksana Polesskaya
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Jerry B Richards
- Clinical and Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Leah C Solberg Woods
- Department of Internal Medicine, Molecular Medicine, Center on Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Amy M Gancarz
- Department of Psychology, California State University, Bakersfield, CA, USA
| | - Abraham A Palmer
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Institute for Genomic Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - David M Dietz
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Suzanne H Mitchell
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
- Oregon Institute for Occupational Health Sciences, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Paul J Meyer
- Department of Psychology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14260, USA.
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14
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Biskupiak Z, Ha VV, Rohaj A, Bulaj G. Digital Therapeutics for Improving Effectiveness of Pharmaceutical Drugs and Biological Products: Preclinical and Clinical Studies Supporting Development of Drug + Digital Combination Therapies for Chronic Diseases. J Clin Med 2024; 13:403. [PMID: 38256537 PMCID: PMC10816409 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13020403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Limitations of pharmaceutical drugs and biologics for chronic diseases (e.g., medication non-adherence, adverse effects, toxicity, or inadequate efficacy) can be mitigated by mobile medical apps, known as digital therapeutics (DTx). Authorization of adjunct DTx by the US Food and Drug Administration and draft guidelines on "prescription drug use-related software" illustrate opportunities to create drug + digital combination therapies, ultimately leading towards drug-device combination products (DTx has a status of medical devices). Digital interventions (mobile, web-based, virtual reality, and video game applications) demonstrate clinically meaningful benefits for people living with Alzheimer's disease, dementia, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, chronic pain, epilepsy, depression, and anxiety. In the respective animal disease models, preclinical studies on environmental enrichment and other non-pharmacological modalities (physical activity, social interactions, learning, and music) as surrogates for DTx "active ingredients" also show improved outcomes. In this narrative review, we discuss how drug + digital combination therapies can impact translational research, drug discovery and development, generic drug repurposing, and gene therapies. Market-driven incentives to create drug-device combination products are illustrated by Humira® (adalimumab) facing a "patent-cliff" competition with cheaper and more effective biosimilars seamlessly integrated with DTx. In conclusion, pharma and biotech companies, patients, and healthcare professionals will benefit from accelerating integration of digital interventions with pharmacotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zack Biskupiak
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Victor Vinh Ha
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Aarushi Rohaj
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
- The Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84113, USA
| | - Grzegorz Bulaj
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
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15
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Lee JM, Lee GH, Kim K. Attending veterinarians improve the research capability and psychological well-being of researchers in animal research institutes. Front Vet Sci 2024; 10:1340225. [PMID: 38249556 PMCID: PMC10797093 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1340225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
The use of laboratory animals in biomedical research has significantly advanced scientific understanding, yet it raises ethical concerns about animal welfare and the mental health of researchers Recent research has highlighted the potential for stress and compassion fatigue among researchers working with distressed animals. Attending veterinarians (AVs) are crucial in mitigating the pain and stress experienced by animals and, by extension, researchers. However, the impact of AVs on researchers' psychological well-being remains understudied. This study explores how AVs contribute to researchers' research capability and psychological well-being in animal research institutions. AVs oversee animal housing, health, and welfare; their involvement is mandated or strongly recommended in developed countries. AVs enhance animal welfare by ensuring proper housing, nutrition, and social interaction. They monitor animal health, educate researchers on pain assessment, and promote compliance with post-surgical care. AVs also contribute to researchers' well-being by addressing euthanasia procedures, which can be emotionally challenging. Programs for rehoming animals after experiments offer an alternative to euthanasia and positively impact researchers' psychological well-being. Moreover, AVs promote workplace well-being by fostering positive workplace cultures, offering peer counseling, and providing social support. Programs considering animal welfare and researchers' emotions are crucial for a healthy research environment. In conclusion, AVs are essential in balancing scientific progress with animal welfare and researchers' psychological well-being. Therefore, their role should be recognized as vital in achieving social equity that considers the welfare of humans and laboratory animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Min Lee
- Research Ethics Team, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Gwang-Hoon Lee
- Preclinical Research Center, Daegu-Gyeongbuk Medical Innovation Foundation, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - KilSoo Kim
- Preclinical Research Center, Daegu-Gyeongbuk Medical Innovation Foundation, Daegu, Republic of Korea
- Department of Veterinary Toxicology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea
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16
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Silva-Almeida C, Muniz SCA, Jobim CMN, Laureano-Melo R, Lau RS, Costa CRM, Côrtes WS, Malvar DC, Reis LC, Mecawi AS, Rocha FF. Perinatal environmental enrichment changes anxiety-like behaviours in mice and produces similar intergenerational benefits in offspring. Behav Brain Res 2024; 456:114700. [PMID: 37802391 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2023.114700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Environmental enrichment implemented in early life is able to induce long-term changes in gene expression, synaptic function and behavioural responses. In this study, we evaluated the adult behavioural effects of perinatal environment enrichment in male and female mice (PEE), as well as the males and females of PEE male offspring (OPEE). For this purpose, animals were submitted to the following battery of behavioural analyses: elevated plus maze, open field test, light-dark box and novelty suppression feeding test. The frontal cortex and ventral hippocampus of PEE mice were collected for the evaluation of the expression of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-related genes. The PEE animals showed an increase in exploratory activity, associated with a reduction in anxiety-like behaviours on the elevated plus maze; this effect was mainly observed in males. Additionally, the male OPEE showed a reduction in anxiety-like behaviours on the elevated plus maze, mainly observed in a reduction of risk assessment-related behaviours. The PEE male mice also showed reduced expression of Gabra3 in the ventral hippocampus when compared to the control group. These results demonstrate that perinatal environmental enrichment promotes a reduction in anxiety-like behaviour that can be transferred intergenerationally.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Silva-Almeida
- Multicenter Graduate Program in Physiological Sciences, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro/Brazilian Society of Physiology, Seropédica, Brazil; Department of Veterinary Medicine of State University of Maringá, Umuarama, Brazil
| | - S C A Muniz
- Multicenter Graduate Program in Physiological Sciences, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro/Brazilian Society of Physiology, Seropédica, Brazil
| | - C M N Jobim
- Multicenter Graduate Program in Physiological Sciences, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro/Brazilian Society of Physiology, Seropédica, Brazil
| | - R Laureano-Melo
- Multicenter Graduate Program in Physiological Sciences, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro/Brazilian Society of Physiology, Seropédica, Brazil; Behavioral Physiopharmacology Laboratory, Barra Mansa Center University, Barra Mansa, Brazil
| | - R S Lau
- Multicenter Graduate Program in Physiological Sciences, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro/Brazilian Society of Physiology, Seropédica, Brazil
| | - C R M Costa
- Multicenter Graduate Program in Physiological Sciences, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro/Brazilian Society of Physiology, Seropédica, Brazil
| | - W S Côrtes
- Multicenter Graduate Program in Physiological Sciences, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro/Brazilian Society of Physiology, Seropédica, Brazil; Department of Physiological Sciences of Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, Brazil
| | - D C Malvar
- Multicenter Graduate Program in Physiological Sciences, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro/Brazilian Society of Physiology, Seropédica, Brazil; Department of Physiological Sciences of Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, Brazil
| | - L C Reis
- Multicenter Graduate Program in Physiological Sciences, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro/Brazilian Society of Physiology, Seropédica, Brazil; Department of Physiological Sciences of Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, Brazil
| | - A S Mecawi
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuroendocrinology, Department of Biophysics of Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - F F Rocha
- Multicenter Graduate Program in Physiological Sciences, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro/Brazilian Society of Physiology, Seropédica, Brazil; Department of Physiological Sciences of Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, Brazil.
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17
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Kelly R, Rose PE. Assessing the impact of environmental enrichment on behavior in understudied armadillo species: A case study. Zoo Biol 2024; 43:100-109. [PMID: 37991115 DOI: 10.1002/zoo.21810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
The implementation of environmental enrichment (EE) can be effective in promoting zoo animal welfare by enhancing the performance of natural or species-typical behaviors. Research on the effects of EE is biased towards larger mammalian species, with less charismatic species being overlooked. Armadillos are one such overlooked example. A captive environment that results in inactivity, obesity, and associated poor health can negatively affect armadillo well-being. The aim of this study was to evaluate how the implementation of four physical object-based EEs could positively affect the behaviors of three armadillo species, housed in four similar exhibits. Behavioral data were collected both before (baseline) and during (treatment) EE periods, alongside of visitor number and environmental temperatures. The EE comprised of a plastic ball or a cardboard tube or a cardboard box, or a scatter-feed, and these were rotated each week of study until each exhibit had received them in turn. Despite the presence of different EE types, activity remained low throughout the study. However, results suggest that the plastic ball and cardboard box increased exploratory behaviors in the armadillos, but no overall increase in activity was noted during the scatter feed. Visitor presence had no effect on armadillo activity, and armadillos showed reduced activity with increasing environmental temperature. Overall, the use of physical object-based EE promoted beneficial natural behaviors in zoo-housed armadillos, but environmental conditions (i.e., temperature) also impacted armadillo activity, suggesting a complicated relationship between an enclosure's environmental variable and any behavioral husbandry measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Kelly
- Centre for Research in Animal Behavior, Psychology, University of Exeter, Devon, UK
| | - Paul E Rose
- Centre for Research in Animal Behavior, Psychology, University of Exeter, Devon, UK
- WWT, Slimbridge Wetland Centre, Slimbridge, Gloucestershire, UK
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18
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McFall A, Graham D, Nicklin SA, Work LM. Unscheduled changes in pre-clinical stroke model housing contributes to variance in physiological and behavioural data outcomes: A post hoc analysis. Brain Neurosci Adv 2024; 8:23982128241238934. [PMID: 38516557 PMCID: PMC10956152 DOI: 10.1177/23982128241238934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Ischaemic stroke presents a significant problem worldwide with no neuroprotective drugs available. Many of the failures in the search for neuroprotectants are attributed to failure to translate from pre-clinical models to humans, which has been combatted with rigorous pre-clinical stroke research guidelines. Here, we present post hoc analysis of a pre-clinical stroke trial, conducted using intraluminal filament transient middle cerebral artery occlusion in the stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rat, whereby unscheduled changes were implemented in the animal housing facility. These changes severely impacted body weight post-stroke resulting in a change from the typical body weight of 90.6% of pre-surgery weight post-stroke, to on average 80.5% of pre-surgery weight post-stroke. The changes also appeared to impact post-stroke blood pressure, with an increase from 215.4 to 240.3 mmHg between housing groups, and functional outcome post-stroke, with a 38% increased latency to contact in the sticky label test. These data highlight the importance of tightly controlled housing conditions when using physiological or behavioural measurements as a primary outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aisling McFall
- School of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Health, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Delyth Graham
- School of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Health, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Stuart A. Nicklin
- School of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Health, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Lorraine M. Work
- School of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Health, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
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19
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Kurogi K, Taniguchi F, Matsuo R, Shinozuka M, Suzaki R, Yasuo S. Increased depression-like behaviors with altered brain dopamine metabolisms in male mice housed in large cages are alleviated by bupropion. Eur J Pharmacol 2023; 960:176126. [PMID: 37858834 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2023.176126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
Psycho-environmental stress-based animal models of anxiety and depression are useful for investigating pathological mechanisms and drug development. Although several rodent-based studies have reported the beneficial effects of environmental enrichment (EE) on brain plasticity and anxiety- and depression-like behaviors, other studies have reported inverse effects. Here, we found that housing male mice in EE involving large cages and other EE materials increased anxiety- and depression-like behaviors in open field and tail suspension tests (TST). We further confirmed that housing in large cages was sufficient to induce increased depression-like behaviors in the TST and reduce the saccharine preference percentage, a sign of anhedonia, in male mice. In these experiments, the number of animals per cage was equivalent to that in standard cage housing, suggesting that low density in large cages may be a determining factor for behavioral alteration. In mice housed in large cages, sex-specific dysregulation of brain monoamine systems was observed; dopamine turnover to homovanillic acid or norepinephrine in the prefrontal cortex was elevated in males, while serotonin turnover to 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid in the amygdala was increased in females. Finally, we demonstrated that daily intraperitoneal injections of bupropion, a dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, counteracted large-cage housing-induced changes in depression- and anhedonia-like behaviors in male mice. Our results suggest that housing in large cages with a low density of mice is a novel paradigm to clarify the mechanisms of environmental stress-induced emotional dysregulation and to identify drugs or food factors to alleviate the dysregulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaito Kurogi
- Laboratory of Regulation in Metabolism and Behavior, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka, 819-0395, Japan
| | - Fuka Taniguchi
- Laboratory of Regulation in Metabolism and Behavior, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka, 819-0395, Japan
| | - Ryohei Matsuo
- Laboratory of Regulation in Metabolism and Behavior, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka, 819-0395, Japan
| | - Marina Shinozuka
- Laboratory of Regulation in Metabolism and Behavior, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka, 819-0395, Japan
| | - Raiki Suzaki
- Laboratory of Regulation in Metabolism and Behavior, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka, 819-0395, Japan
| | - Shinobu Yasuo
- Laboratory of Regulation in Metabolism and Behavior, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka, 819-0395, Japan.
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20
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Gomes MEP, Didomizio LMJ, Sinzato YK, Paula VG, Souza MR, Gallego FQ, Barco VS, Volpato GT, Damasceno DC. Influence of maternal periuterine and periovarian fat on reproductive performance and fetal growth in rats. AN ACAD BRAS CIENC 2023; 95:e20230079. [PMID: 38055444 DOI: 10.1590/0001-3765202320230079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023] Open
Abstract
We aimed to evaluate how high-fat diet consumption can interfere with rat reproductive performance and fetal development. High-fat diet (HFD) was initiated in 30-day-old rats, distributed into two groups (n=7 animals/group): Rats receiving a standard diet and rats receiving HFD. At adulthood, the rats were mated, and on day 21 of pregnancy, the females were anesthetized, decapitated, and submitted to laparotomy to obtain visceral and periovarian adipose tissue. The uterine horns were exposed for analysis of maternal reproductive performance. The fetuses and placentas were weighed and analyzed. Pearson's correlation test was used, and p<0.05 was considered significant. There was a significant positive correlation (HFD consumption x increased periovarian fat) and a negative correlation with the implantation, live fetus numbers and lower litter weight. Furthermore, the increased relative weight of periuterine fat was related to the lower number of live fetuses and litter weight. Regarding the fetal weight classification, there was a negative correlation between the relative weight of periovarian fat and the percentage of fetuses appropriate for gestational age and large for gestational age. Therefore, our findings show that HFD maternal intake negatively influenced on reproductive performance and fetal growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Eduarda P Gomes
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Tocoginecologia, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Faculdade de Medicina, Laboratório de Pesquisa Experimental em Ginecologia e Obstetricia, Av. Prof. Mário Rubens Guimarães Montenegro, s/n, 18618-687 Botucatu, SP, Brazil
| | - Luigi M J Didomizio
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Tocoginecologia, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Faculdade de Medicina, Laboratório de Pesquisa Experimental em Ginecologia e Obstetricia, Av. Prof. Mário Rubens Guimarães Montenegro, s/n, 18618-687 Botucatu, SP, Brazil
- Universidade Santo Amaro, Escola de Medicina, Rua Isabel Schmidt, 349, 04743-030 Santo Amaro, SP, Brazil
| | - Yuri K Sinzato
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Tocoginecologia, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Faculdade de Medicina, Laboratório de Pesquisa Experimental em Ginecologia e Obstetricia, Av. Prof. Mário Rubens Guimarães Montenegro, s/n, 18618-687 Botucatu, SP, Brazil
| | - Verônyca G Paula
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Tocoginecologia, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Faculdade de Medicina, Laboratório de Pesquisa Experimental em Ginecologia e Obstetricia, Av. Prof. Mário Rubens Guimarães Montenegro, s/n, 18618-687 Botucatu, SP, Brazil
| | - Maysa R Souza
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Tocoginecologia, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Faculdade de Medicina, Laboratório de Pesquisa Experimental em Ginecologia e Obstetricia, Av. Prof. Mário Rubens Guimarães Montenegro, s/n, 18618-687 Botucatu, SP, Brazil
- Universidade Federal do Mato Grosso, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Laboratório de Fisiologia de Sistemas e Toxicologia Reprodutiva, Av. Valdon Varjão, 6390, 78605-091 Barra do Garças, MT, Brazil
| | - Franciane Q Gallego
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Tocoginecologia, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Faculdade de Medicina, Laboratório de Pesquisa Experimental em Ginecologia e Obstetricia, Av. Prof. Mário Rubens Guimarães Montenegro, s/n, 18618-687 Botucatu, SP, Brazil
| | - Vinícius S Barco
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Tocoginecologia, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Faculdade de Medicina, Laboratório de Pesquisa Experimental em Ginecologia e Obstetricia, Av. Prof. Mário Rubens Guimarães Montenegro, s/n, 18618-687 Botucatu, SP, Brazil
| | - Gustavo T Volpato
- Universidade Federal do Mato Grosso, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Laboratório de Fisiologia de Sistemas e Toxicologia Reprodutiva, Av. Valdon Varjão, 6390, 78605-091 Barra do Garças, MT, Brazil
| | - Débora Cristina Damasceno
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Tocoginecologia, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Faculdade de Medicina, Laboratório de Pesquisa Experimental em Ginecologia e Obstetricia, Av. Prof. Mário Rubens Guimarães Montenegro, s/n, 18618-687 Botucatu, SP, Brazil
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21
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Réus GZ, Abitante MS, Manosso LM, de Moura AB, Borba LA, Botelho MEM, Darabas AC, Demo JP, Behenck JP, Arent CO, Garbossa L, Joaquim L, Cardoso TA, Petronilho F, Quevedo J. Environmental Enrichment Rescues Oxidative Stress and Behavioral Impairments Induced by Maternal Care Deprivation: Sex- and Developmental-Dependent Differences. Mol Neurobiol 2023; 60:6757-6773. [PMID: 34665408 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-021-02588-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Stress is related to major depressive disorder (MDD). This study investigated the action that early stress, represented by maternal deprivation (MD), has on the behavior and oxidative stress of Wistar female and male rats. Also, it was evaluated whether changes induced by MD could be reversed by environmental enrichment (EE). Male and female rats were divided into a non-MD and MD group. The MD group was subdivided into 3 groups: (1) assessed on the 31st day after exposure to EE for 10 days, (2) assessed on the 41st day after exposure to EE for 20 days, and (3) assessed on the 61st day after exposure to EE for 40 days. Behavioral tests were performed (memory habituation and elevated plus maze). Oxidative stress parameters were evaluated peripherally. MD was able to promote anxiety-like behavior at postnatal day (PND) 41 and impair memory at PND 31 and PND 61 in male and PND 41 and PND 61 in female rats. MD was associated with increased oxidative stress parameters (reactive species to thiobarbituric acid levels (TBARS), carbonylated proteins, nitrite/nitrate concentration), and altered antioxidant defenses (superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), and sulfhydryl content) in different stages of development. The EE was able to reverse almost all behavioral and biochemical changes induced by MD; however, EE effects were sex and developmental period dependent. These findings reinforce the understanding of the gender variable as a biological factor in MDD related to MD and EE could be considered a treatment option for MDD treatment and its comorbidities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gislaine Z Réus
- Translational Psychiatry Laboratory, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina (UNESC), Criciuma, SC, 88806-000, Brazil.
| | - Morgana S Abitante
- Translational Psychiatry Laboratory, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina (UNESC), Criciuma, SC, 88806-000, Brazil
| | - Luana M Manosso
- Translational Psychiatry Laboratory, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina (UNESC), Criciuma, SC, 88806-000, Brazil
| | - Airam B de Moura
- Translational Psychiatry Laboratory, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina (UNESC), Criciuma, SC, 88806-000, Brazil
| | - Laura A Borba
- Translational Psychiatry Laboratory, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina (UNESC), Criciuma, SC, 88806-000, Brazil
| | - Maria Eduarda M Botelho
- Translational Psychiatry Laboratory, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina (UNESC), Criciuma, SC, 88806-000, Brazil
| | - Ana Caroline Darabas
- Translational Psychiatry Laboratory, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina (UNESC), Criciuma, SC, 88806-000, Brazil
| | - Julia P Demo
- Translational Psychiatry Laboratory, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina (UNESC), Criciuma, SC, 88806-000, Brazil
| | - João Paulo Behenck
- Translational Psychiatry Laboratory, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina (UNESC), Criciuma, SC, 88806-000, Brazil
| | - Camila O Arent
- Translational Psychiatry Laboratory, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina (UNESC), Criciuma, SC, 88806-000, Brazil
| | - Leandro Garbossa
- Laboratory of Clinical and Experimental Pathophysiology, Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina (UNISUL), Tubarão, SC, Brazil
| | - Larissa Joaquim
- Laboratory of Clinical and Experimental Pathophysiology, Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina (UNISUL), Tubarão, SC, Brazil
| | - Taiane A Cardoso
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Fabricia Petronilho
- Laboratory of Clinical and Experimental Pathophysiology, Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina (UNISUL), Tubarão, SC, Brazil
| | - João Quevedo
- Translational Psychiatry Laboratory, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina (UNESC), Criciuma, SC, 88806-000, Brazil
- Translational Psychiatry Program, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, TX, USA
- Center of Excellence On Mood Disorders, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, TX, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, The University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
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22
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Norwood MF, Lakhani A, Watling DP, Marsh CH, Zeeman H. Efficacy of Multimodal Sensory Therapy in Adult Acquired Brain Injury: A Systematic Review. Neuropsychol Rev 2023; 33:693-713. [PMID: 36056243 PMCID: PMC10769951 DOI: 10.1007/s11065-022-09560-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
Adults who experience an acquired brain injury often experience disorders of consciousness, physical difficulties, and maladaptive behaviours. Multimodal sensory therapy may benefit brain injured patients, however the extent this therapy can facilitate rehabilitation is not well understood. This systematic review aimed to synthesize multimodal sensory therapy research for adults affected by acquired brain injury. PRISMA guidelines were followed and searches for work published up until July 2021 were undertaken in 5 databases, finding 1054 articles. 43 articles were included in the study. Results describe 29 studies related to coma following an acquired brain injury and 14 to no coma studies (mostly stroke). Multimodal sensory therapy was mostly used as a coma arousal technique following traumatic brain injury, finding positive effects. Multimodal sensory therapy was less applied in stroke, no coma rehabilitation, where most studies found improvement in somatosensory sensation and motor control in an affected limb. In several no coma studies, effects were maintained after several months. The most common senses stimulated in coma studies were audio (N = 30), tactile (N = 28), visual (N = 26), olfactory (N = 22), and gustatory (N = 17), while the most common senses stimulated in stroke, no coma studies were proprioception (N = 7), tactile (N = 8), and stereognosis (N = 4). Multimodal sensory therapy can be beneficial for patients, especially those in a minimally conscious state or attempting physical rehabilitation following stroke. Negative findings are infrequent in the current literature base. Multimodal sensory therapy appears to be a low-risk intervention with positive outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Francis Norwood
- The Hopkins Centre, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, University Drive, Meadowbrook, QLD, 4131, Australia.
| | - Ali Lakhani
- The Hopkins Centre, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, University Drive, Meadowbrook, QLD, 4131, Australia
- The School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, 360 Collins St, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
| | - David Phillip Watling
- Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention, School of Applied Psychology, W.H.O Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Suicide Prevention, Griffith University, Brisbane, 4122, Australia
| | - Chelsea Hannah Marsh
- The Hopkins Centre, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, University Drive, Meadowbrook, QLD, 4131, Australia
- School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, 4222, Australia
| | - Heidi Zeeman
- The Hopkins Centre, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, University Drive, Meadowbrook, QLD, 4131, Australia
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23
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Mansk LMZ, Jaimes LF, Dias TL, Pereira GS. Social recognition memory differences between mouse strains: On the effects of social isolation, adult neurogenesis, and environmental enrichment. Brain Res 2023; 1819:148535. [PMID: 37595660 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2023.148535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/20/2023]
Abstract
Remembering conspecifics is paramount for the establishment and maintenance of groups. Here we asked whether the variability in social behavior caused by different breeding strategies affects social recognition memory (SRM). We tested the hypothesis that the inbred Swiss and the outbred C57BL/6 mice behave differently on SRM. Social memory in C57BL/6 mice endured at least 14 days, while in Swiss mice lasted 24 h but not ten days. We showed previously that an enriched environment enhanced the persistence of SRM in Swiss mice. Here we reproduced this result and added that it also increases the survival of adult-born neurons in the hippocampus. Next, we tested whether prolonged SRM observed in C57BL/6 mice could be changed by diminishing the trial duration or using an interference stimulus after learning. Neither short acquisition time nor interference during consolidation affected it. However, social isolation impaired SRM in C57BL/6 mice, similar to what was previously observed in Swiss mice. Our results demonstrate that SRM expression can vary according to the mouse strain, which shows the importance of considering this variable when choosing the most suitable model to answer specific questions about this memory system. We also demonstrate the suitability of both C57BL/6 and Swiss strains for exploring the impact of environmental conditions and adult neurogenesis on social memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara M Z Mansk
- Núcleo de Neurociências, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Laura F Jaimes
- Núcleo de Neurociências, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Thomaz L Dias
- Núcleo de Neurociências, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil; Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Grace S Pereira
- Núcleo de Neurociências, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
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24
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Smail MA, Smith BL, Shukla R, Alganem K, Eby HM, Bollinger JL, Parikh RK, Chambers JB, Reigle JK, Moloney RD, Nawreen N, Wohleb ES, Pantazopoulos H, McCullumsmith RE, Herman JP. Molecular neurobiology of loss: a role for basolateral amygdala extracellular matrix. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:4729-4741. [PMID: 37644175 PMCID: PMC10914625 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02231-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
Psychological loss is a common experience that erodes well-being and negatively impacts quality of life. The molecular underpinnings of loss are poorly understood. Here, we investigate the mechanisms of loss using an environmental enrichment removal (ER) paradigm in male rats. The basolateral amygdala (BLA) was identified as a region of interest, demonstrating differential Fos responsivity to ER and having an established role in stress processing and adaptation. A comprehensive multi-omics investigation of the BLA, spanning multiple cohorts, platforms, and analyses, revealed alterations in microglia and the extracellular matrix (ECM). Follow-up studies indicated that ER decreased microglia size, complexity, and phagocytosis, suggesting reduced immune surveillance. Loss also substantially increased ECM coverage, specifically targeting perineuronal nets surrounding parvalbumin interneurons, suggesting decreased plasticity and increased inhibition within the BLA following loss. Behavioral analyses suggest that these molecular effects are linked to impaired BLA salience evaluation, leading to a mismatch between stimulus and reaction intensity. These loss-like behaviors could be rescued by depleting BLA ECM during the removal period, helping us understand the mechanisms underlying loss and revealing novel molecular targets to ameliorate its impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marissa A Smail
- Department of Pharmacology and Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
| | - Brittany L Smith
- Department of Pharmacology and Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Rammohan Shukla
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA
| | - Khaled Alganem
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA
| | - Hunter M Eby
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA
| | - Justin L Bollinger
- Department of Pharmacology and Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Ria K Parikh
- Department of Pharmacology and Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - James B Chambers
- Department of Pharmacology and Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - James K Reigle
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Rachel D Moloney
- School of Pharmacy, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland, UK
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland, UK
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland, UK
| | - Nawshaba Nawreen
- Department of Pharmacology and Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Eric S Wohleb
- Department of Pharmacology and Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Harry Pantazopoulos
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomical Sciences, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, USA
| | - Robert E McCullumsmith
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA
- Neurosciences Institute, ProMedica, Toledo, OH, USA
| | - James P Herman
- Department of Pharmacology and Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
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25
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De Hoyos G, Ramos-Sostre D, Torres-Reverón A, Barros-Cartagena B, López-Rodríguez V, Nieves-Vázquez C, Santiago-Saavedra F, Appleyard CB, Castro EM, Flores I. Efficacy of an environmental enrichment intervention for endometriosis: a pilot study. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1225790. [PMID: 37885745 PMCID: PMC10598732 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1225790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction We have previously shown that Environmental Enrichment (EE), a multi-modal psychosocial intervention consisting of increased social interaction, novelty, and open spaces, improved disease presentation, anxiety, and immune-related disturbances in the rat model of endometriosis. However, there is a knowledge gap regarding the effects of EE interventions in patients with this painful, inflammatory chronic disease. Aim To adapt and test the efficacy of an EE intervention on pelvic pain, mental health, perceived stress, quality of life, and systemic inflammation in endometriosis patients through a randomized clinical trial (RCT). Materials and methods A multidisciplinary team with expertise in physiology, neuroscience, psychology, and women's health adapted and implemented a two-arm RCT comparing an EE intervention with a wait-list control group. Six EE modules administered on alternate weeks were provided to patients in the intervention (N = 29); controls received education only. Survey data and biospecimens were collected at baseline, end-of-study, and 3-months post-intervention to assess pain (Brief Pain Inventory, BPI), endometriosis-related quality of life-QoL (Endometriosis Health Profile-30, EHP30), anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7, GAD7), depression (Patient Health Questionnaire for Depression 8, PHQ8), pain catastrophizing (Pain Catastrophizing Score, PCS), stress (Perceived Stress Scale-14, PSS14), and saliva cortisol levels (AM, PM). Results Compared to the wait-list controls, participants in the EE intervention showed significantly decreased GAD-7 scores at the end of the intervention and 3-month follow-up. Depression, perceived stress, and QoL improved at the 3-month follow-up compared to baseline. While pain levels did not improve, they significantly correlated with anxiety, depression, QoL and pain catastrophizing scores. Conclusion This pilot RCT demonstrated significant improvements in anxiety and depressive symptoms, QoL, and perceived stress, supporting enriched environments as an integrative psychosocial intervention to be used as adjuvant to the standard of care for endometriosis pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace De Hoyos
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, Puerto Rico
| | - Darlenne Ramos-Sostre
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, Puerto Rico
| | - Annelyn Torres-Reverón
- Department of Basic Sciences, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, Puerto Rico
- Sur180 Therapeutics, Inc., McAllen, TX, United States
| | | | | | - Cristina Nieves-Vázquez
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, Puerto Rico
| | - Fanny Santiago-Saavedra
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, Puerto Rico
| | - Caroline B. Appleyard
- Department of Basic Sciences, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, Puerto Rico
- Sur180 Therapeutics, Inc., McAllen, TX, United States
| | - Eida M. Castro
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, Puerto Rico
| | - Idhaliz Flores
- Department of Basic Sciences, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, Puerto Rico
- Sur180 Therapeutics, Inc., McAllen, TX, United States
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, Puerto Rico
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26
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Speck ML, Gomes ALA, Rojas CS, Willig JB, Herrmann AP, Pilger DA, Rates SMK. Environmental enrichment affects behavioral and pharmacological response to antidepressants in CF1 mice. Neurosci Lett 2023; 813:137432. [PMID: 37549865 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2023.137432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023]
Abstract
It has been described that environmental enrichment (EE) exerts beneficial effects on cognitive and emotional performances, dendritic branching, synaptic density, neurogenesis and modulation of neurotrophic systems and neurotransmitters in rodents. However, the influence of EE on pharmacological and behavioral responses in animal models of psychiatric disorders has not been fully established. In this context, the aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of exposure to EE on mice behavior in the open field test (OFT) and forced swimming tests (FST), as well as the response to antidepressant drugs (fluoxetine 30 mg/kg and bupropion 30 mg/kg, p.o.). CF1 mice were exposed to an enriched housing condition at different developmental stages: from mating to postnatal day (PND) 55 (lifelong enrichment), from mating to PND21 (perinatal enrichment) and from PND21 to PND55 (post-weaning enrichment). At PND58 the male offspring were evaluated in the OFT and FST. BDNF gene expression in the hippocampus was determined through qPCR. Mice exposed to perinatal enrichment remained longer in the peripheral zone of the OFT and performed fewer grooming than mice housed under standard condition, and these effects were independent of drug treatment. Post-weaning and lifelong enrichment increased grooming behavior. Bupropion reduced grooming in all groups except in perinatal enriched. In turn, fluoxetine decreased grooming only in post-weaning enriched group. None of the enriched housing conditions altered the immobility time in the FST, which indicates that EE had no antidepressant-like effect. However, all enriched housing conditions abolished the anti-immobility effect of bupropion. None of the EE protocols affected BDNF hippocampal expression. The main conclusion is that mice behavior in the OFT is sensitive to alterations in the housing environment and depends on the developmental stage of exposure. Bupropion and fluoxetine yielded divergent responses depending on the housing condition, which suggests that EE modulates monoaminergic neurotransmission pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Lorena Speck
- Graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul. Avenida Ipiranga, 2752, Porto Alegre, RS ZIP CODE 90610000, Brazil
| | - Ana Luiza Azevedo Gomes
- Graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul. Avenida Ipiranga, 2752, Porto Alegre, RS ZIP CODE 90610000, Brazil
| | - Camila Schafer Rojas
- Graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul. Avenida Ipiranga, 2752, Porto Alegre, RS ZIP CODE 90610000, Brazil
| | - Julia Biz Willig
- Graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul. Avenida Ipiranga, 2752, Porto Alegre, RS ZIP CODE 90610000, Brazil
| | - Ana Paula Herrmann
- Graduate Program in Biological Sciences: Pharmacology and Therapeutics. Federal University of: Rio Grande do Sul. Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 2600, Porto Alegre, RS ZIP CODE 90035003, Brazil.
| | - Diogo André Pilger
- Graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul. Avenida Ipiranga, 2752, Porto Alegre, RS ZIP CODE 90610000, Brazil.
| | - Stela Maris Kuze Rates
- Graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul. Avenida Ipiranga, 2752, Porto Alegre, RS ZIP CODE 90610000, Brazil.
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27
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Farmer AL, Lewis MH. Reduction of restricted repetitive behavior by environmental enrichment: Potential neurobiological mechanisms. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 152:105291. [PMID: 37353046 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2023] [Revised: 06/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/25/2023]
Abstract
Restricted repetitive behaviors (RRB) are one of two diagnostic criteria for autism spectrum disorder and common in other neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders. The term restricted repetitive behavior refers to a wide variety of inflexible patterns of behavior including stereotypy, self-injury, restricted interests, insistence on sameness, and ritualistic and compulsive behavior. However, despite their prevalence in clinical populations, their underlying causes remain poorly understood hampering the development of effective treatments. Intriguingly, numerous animal studies have demonstrated that these behaviors are reduced by rearing in enriched environments (EE). Understanding the processes responsible for the attenuation of repetitive behaviors by EE should offer insights into potential therapeutic approaches, as well as shed light on the underlying neurobiology of repetitive behaviors. This review summarizes the current knowledge of the relationship between EE and RRB and discusses potential mechanisms for EE's attenuation of RRB based on the broader EE literature. Existing gaps in the literature and future directions are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna L Farmer
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
| | - Mark H Lewis
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
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28
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Bozkurt S, Lannin NA, Mychasiuk R, Semple BD. Environmental modifications to rehabilitate social behavior deficits after acquired brain injury: What is the evidence? Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 152:105278. [PMID: 37295762 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 04/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Social behavior deficits are a common, debilitating consequence of traumatic brain injury and stroke, particularly when sustained during childhood. Numerous factors influence the manifestation of social problems after acquired brain injuries, raising the question of whether environmental manipulations can minimize or prevent such deficits. Here, we examine both clinical and preclinical evidence addressing this question, with a particular focus on environmental enrichment paradigms and differing housing conditions. We aimed to understand whether environmental manipulations can ameliorate injury-induced social behavior deficits. In summary, promising data from experimental models supports a beneficial role of environmental enrichment on social behavior. However, limited studies have considered social outcomes in the chronic setting, and few studies have addressed the social context specifically as an important component of the post-injury environment. Clinically, limited high-caliber evidence supports the use of specific interventions for social deficits after acquired brain injuries. An improved understanding of how the post-injury environment interacts with the injured brain, particularly during development, is needed to validate the implementation of rehabilitative interventions that involve manipulating an individuals' environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salome Bozkurt
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Natasha A Lannin
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Alfred Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; School of Allied Health (Occupational Therapy), La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Richelle Mychasiuk
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Alfred Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Bridgette D Semple
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Alfred Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Department of Medicine (Royal Melbourne Hospital), The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
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29
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Costa GA, de Gusmão Taveiros Silva NK, Marianno P, Chivers P, Bailey A, Camarini R. Environmental Enrichment Increased Bdnf Transcripts in the Prefrontal Cortex: Implications for an Epigenetically Controlled Mechanism. Neuroscience 2023; 526:277-289. [PMID: 37419403 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2023.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/09/2023]
Abstract
Environmental enrichment (EE) is a condition characterized by its complexity regarding social contact, exposure to novelty, tactile stimuli and voluntary exercise, also is considered as a eustress model. The impact of EE on brain physiology and behavioral outcomes may be at least partly underpinned by mechanisms involving the modulation of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), but the connection between specific Bdnf exon expression and their epigenetic regulation remain poorly understood. This study aimed to dissect the transcriptional and epigenetic regulatory effect of 54-day exposure to EE on BDNF by analysing individual BDNF exons mRNA expression and the DNA methylation profile of a key transcriptional regulator of the Bdnf gene, exon IV, in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of C57BL/6 male mice (sample size = 33). Bdnf exons II, IV, VI and IX mRNA expression were upregulated and methylation levels at two CpG sites of exon IV were reduced in the PFC of EE mice. As deficit in exon IV expression has also been causally implicated in stress-related psychopathologies, we also assessed anxiety-like behavior and plasma corticosterone levels in these mice to determine any potential correlation. However, no changes were observed in EE mice. The findings may suggest an EE-induced epigenetic control of BDNF exon expression via a mechanism involving exon IV methylation. The findings of this study contribute to the current literature by dissecting the Bdnf gene topology in the PFC where transcriptional and epigenetic regulatory effect of EE takes place.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Araújo Costa
- Pharmacology Department, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Priscila Marianno
- Pharmacology Department, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Priti Chivers
- School of Biosciences & Medicine, Faculty of Health & Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK
| | - Alexis Bailey
- Pharmacology Section, Institute of Medical and Biomedical Education, St George's University of London, London, UK.
| | - Rosana Camarini
- Pharmacology Department, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
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30
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Dandi Ε, Spandou E, Dalla C, Tata DA. Τhe neuroprotective role of environmental enrichment against behavioral, morphological, neuroendocrine and molecular changes following chronic unpredictable mild stress: A systematic review. Eur J Neurosci 2023; 58:3003-3025. [PMID: 37461295 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.16089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2023]
Abstract
Environmental factors interact with biological and genetic factors influencing the development and well-being of an organism. The interest in better understanding the role of environment on behavior and physiology led to the development of animal models of environmental manipulations. Environmental enrichment (EE), an environmental condition that allows cognitive and sensory stimulation as well as social interaction, improves cognitive function, reduces anxiety and depressive-like behavior and promotes neuroplasticity. In addition, it exerts protection against neurodegenerative disorders, cognitive aging and deficits aggravated by stressful experiences. Given the beneficial effects of EE on the brain and behavior, preclinical studies have focused on its protective role as an alternative, non-invasive manipulation, to help an organism to cope better with stress. A valid, reliable and effective animal model of chronic stress that enhances anxiety and depression-like behavior is the chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS). The variety of stressors and the unpredictability in the time and sequence of exposure to prevent habituation, render CUMS an ethologically relevant model. CUMS has been associated with dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, elevation in the basal levels of stress hormones, reduction in brain volume, dendritic atrophy and alterations in markers of synaptic plasticity. Although numerous studies have underlined the compensatory role of EE against the negative effects of various chronic stress regimens (e.g. restraint and social isolation), research concerning the interaction between EE and CUMS is sparse. The purpose of the current systematic review is to present up-to-date research findings regarding the protective role of EE against the negative effects of CUMS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Εvgenia Dandi
- Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience, School of Psychology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Evangelia Spandou
- Laboratory of Experimental Physiology, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Christina Dalla
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Despina A Tata
- Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience, School of Psychology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
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31
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Clark FE, Greggor AL, Montgomery SH, Plotnik JM. The endangered brain: actively preserving ex-situ animal behaviour and cognition will benefit in-situ conservation. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2023; 10:230707. [PMID: 37650055 PMCID: PMC10465207 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.230707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
Endangered species have small, unsustainable population sizes that are geographically or genetically restricted. Ex-situ conservation programmes are therefore faced with the challenge of breeding sufficiently sized, genetically diverse populations earmarked for reintroduction that have the behavioural skills to survive and breed in the wild. Yet, maintaining historically beneficial behaviours may be insufficient, as research continues to suggest that certain cognitive-behavioural skills and flexibility are necessary to cope with human-induced rapid environmental change (HIREC). This paper begins by reviewing interdisciplinary studies on the 'captivity effect' in laboratory, farmed, domesticated and feral vertebrates and finds that captivity imposes rapid yet often reversible changes to the brain, cognition and behaviour. However, research on this effect in ex-situ conservation sites is lacking. This paper reveals an apparent mismatch between ex-situ enrichment aims and the cognitive-behavioural skills possessed by animals currently coping with HIREC. After synthesizing literature across neuroscience, behavioural biology, comparative cognition and field conservation, it seems that ex-situ endangered species deemed for reintroduction may have better chances of coping with HIREC if their natural cognition and behavioural repertoires are actively preserved. Evaluating the effects of environmental challenges rather than captivity per se is recommended, in addition to using targeted cognitive enrichment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fay E. Clark
- School of Psychological Science, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | | | | | - Joshua M. Plotnik
- Department of Psychology, Hunter College, City University of New York, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Psychology, The Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, NY, USA
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Lau AR, Pinto BR, Witczak LR, Bales KL. Room size and offspring presence impact pair-bonded primate affiliation. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2023; 265:105994. [PMID: 38585686 PMCID: PMC10997365 DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2023.105994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Primates live in a variety of social groupings and vary in the expression of species-typical behaviors depending upon social conditions. Coppery titi monkeys (Plecturocebus cupreus) are pair-bonding, territorial primates often used to study neurobiology and social behavior in captivity at the California National Primate Research Center (CNPRC). At the center, titi monkeys are housed in cages of standardized size. However, the number of cages--and thus families--per room varies based upon the room size (small or large). Anecdotal evidence suggests titi monkeys behave differently in the two different room sizes. To empirically test this, we measured rates of pair-bonding related affiliation in 23 pairs of titi monkeys. We predicted that monkeys in small rooms would show higher rates of affiliation compared to large rooms. We used a between- and within- subjects design in which all subjects moved from either small to large or large to small rooms. Affiliative behavior was recorded via bihourly instantaneous scan samples. We found that titi monkey pairs affiliated significantly more in small rooms compared to large rooms (partial R2 = 0.1468, t(33) = -3.729, p-value < .0005). We also confirmed that the presence of offspring negatively impacts pair affiliation rates (partial R2 = 0.2240, t(33) = -0.181, p-value = 0.0011). The results of this study suggest that titi monkey pair behavior is influenced by room size, and thus the number of neighboring groups. Management decisions should consider the implications that housing may have on the results of social behavior research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison R Lau
- Animal Behavior Graduate Group, University of California, Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, 95616
| | - Brianna R Pinto
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, 95616
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology, University of California, Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616
| | - Lynea R Witczak
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, 95616
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616
| | - Karen L Bales
- Animal Behavior Graduate Group, University of California, Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, 95616
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616
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Ishiwari K, King CP, Martin CD, Tripi JA, George AM, Lamparelli AC, Chitre A, Polesskaya O, Richards JB, Woods LCS, Gancarz A, Palmer AA, Dietz DM, Mitchell SH, Meyer PJ. Environmental enrichment promotes adaptive responding during tests of behavioral regulation in male heterogeneous stock rats. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.30.547228. [PMID: 37503161 PMCID: PMC10369912 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.30.547228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Organisms must regulate their behavior flexibly in the face of environmental challenges. Failure can lead to a host of maladaptive behavioral traits associated with a range of neuropsychiatric disorders, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism, and substance use disorders. This maladaptive dysregulation of behavior is influenced by genetic and environmental factors. For example, environmental enrichment produces beneficial neurobehavioral effects in animal models of such disorders. The present study determined the effects of environmental enrichment on a range of measures related to behavioral regulation using a large cohort of male, outbred heterogeneous stock (HS) rats as subjects to mimic the genetic variability found in the human population. Subjects were reared from late adolescence onwards either in pairs in standard housing with minimal enrichment (n=200) or in groups of 16 in a highly enriched environment consisting of a large multi-level cage filled with toys, running wheels, and shelters (n=64). Rats were subjected to a battery of tests, including: (i) locomotor response to novelty, (iI) light reinforcement, (iii) social reinforcement, (iv) reaction time, (v) a patch-depletion foraging test, (vi) Pavlovian conditioned approach, (vii) conditioned reinforcement, and (viii) cocaine conditioned cue preference. Results indicated that rats housed in the enriched environment were able to filter out irrelevant stimuli more effectively and thereby regulate their behavior more efficiently than standard-housing rats. The dramatic impact of environmental enrichment suggests that behavioral studies using standard housing conditions may not generalize to more complex environments that may be more ethologically relevant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keita Ishiwari
- Clinical and Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Christopher P. King
- Clinical and Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
- Department of Psychology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Connor D. Martin
- Clinical and Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Jordan A. Tripi
- Department of Psychology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Anthony M. George
- Clinical and Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | | | - Apurva Chitre
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Oksana Polesskaya
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Jerry B. Richards
- Clinical and Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Leah C. Solberg Woods
- Department of Internal Medicine, Molecular Medicine, Center on Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Amy Gancarz
- Department of Psychology, California State University, Bakersfield, Bakersfield, CA, USA
| | - Abraham A. Palmer
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Institute for Genomic Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - David M. Dietz
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Suzanne H. Mitchell
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
- Oregon Institute for Occupational Health Sciences, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Paul J. Meyer
- Department of Psychology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
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Bulla AJ, Duke M, Turcios O, Brooks K, Talbot R, Lile C, Davis K. A preliminary investigation to establish conceptual behavior in gray wolves (Canis lupus). J Exp Anal Behav 2023; 120:21-35. [PMID: 37098753 DOI: 10.1002/jeab.848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/27/2023]
Abstract
Conceptual behavior represents a type of complex stimulus control where an organism differentially responds to examples and nonexamples of instances within a stimulus class. Different species have demonstrated conceptual behavior both in their natural environments and through experimental investigations. The current paper investigates preliminary methods to teach conceptual behavior to gray wolves (Canis lupus). The researchers used a match-to-sample arrangement to teach three shapes: a triangle, square, and cross varying in size, color, and positions. Probe trials used a novel set of stimuli to test for the emergence of conceptual behavior. Although the wolves did not show an immediate transfer to novel stimuli following initial match-to-sample training, they did show improvement after explicit discrimination training. We discuss the implications of these results as well as future methods that may enhance experimental procedures investigating concept learning in canids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J Bulla
- Georgia Southern University-Armstrong, Savannah, GA, USA
| | - Madisen Duke
- Georgia Southern University-Armstrong, Savannah, GA, USA
| | - Oscar Turcios
- Georgia Southern University-Armstrong, Savannah, GA, USA
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Alarcón TA, Presti-Silva SM, Simões APT, Ribeiro FM, Pires RGW. Molecular mechanisms underlying the neuroprotection of environmental enrichment in Parkinson's disease. Neural Regen Res 2023; 18:1450-1456. [PMID: 36571341 PMCID: PMC10075132 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.360264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease is the most common movement disorder, affecting about 1% of the population over the age of 60 years. Parkinson's disease is characterized clinically by resting tremor, bradykinesia, rigidity and postural instability, as a result of the progressive loss of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons. In addition to this neuronal cell loss, Parkinson's disease is characterized by the accumulation of intracellular protein aggregates, Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites, composed primarily of the protein α-synuclein. Although it was first described almost 200 years ago, there are no disease-modifying drugs to treat patients with Parkinson's disease. In addition to conventional therapies, non-pharmacological treatment strategies are under investigation in patients and animal models of neurodegenerative disorders. Among such strategies, environmental enrichment, comprising physical exercise, cognitive stimulus, and social interactions, has been assessed in preclinical models of Parkinson's disease. Environmental enrichment can cause structural and functional changes in the brain and promote neurogenesis and dendritic growth by modifying gene expression, enhancing the expression of neurotrophic factors and modulating neurotransmission. In this review article, we focus on the current knowledge about the molecular mechanisms underlying environmental enrichment neuroprotection in Parkinson's disease, highlighting its influence on the dopaminergic, cholinergic, glutamatergic and GABAergic systems, as well as the involvement of neurotrophic factors. We describe experimental pre-clinical data showing how environmental enrichment can act as a modulator in a neurochemical and behavioral context in different animal models of Parkinson's disease, highlighting the potential of environmental enrichment as an additional strategy in the management and prevention of this complex disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamara Andrea Alarcón
- Department of Physiological Sciences; Laboratory of Molecular and Behavioral Neurobiology, Health Science Center, Universidade Federal do Espirito Santo, Vitoria, Brazil
| | - Sarah Martins Presti-Silva
- Laboratory of Molecular and Behavioral Neurobiology, Health Science Center, Universidade Federal do Espirito Santo, Vitoria; Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Institute o Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Avenida Antônio Carlos, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Ana Paula Toniato Simões
- Department of Physiological Sciences; Laboratory of Molecular and Behavioral Neurobiology, Health Science Center, Universidade Federal do Espirito Santo, Vitoria, Brazil
| | - Fabiola Mara Ribeiro
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Institute o Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Avenida Antônio Carlos, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Rita Gomes Wanderley Pires
- Department of Physiological Sciences; Laboratory of Molecular and Behavioral Neurobiology, Health Science Center, Universidade Federal do Espirito Santo, Vitoria, Brazil
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Ravache TT, Batistuzzo A, Nunes GG, Gomez TGB, Lorena FB, Do Nascimento BPP, Bernardi MM, Lima ERR, Martins DO, Campos ACP, Pagano RL, Ribeiro MO. Multisensory Stimulation Reverses Memory Impairment in Adrβ 3KO Male Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10522. [PMID: 37445699 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241310522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Norepinephrine plays an important role in modulating memory through its beta-adrenergic receptors (Adrβ: β1, β2 and β3). Here, we hypothesized that multisensory stimulation would reverse memory impairment caused by the inactivation of Adrβ3 (Adrβ3KO) with consequent inhibition of sustained glial-mediated inflammation. To test this, 21- and 86-day-old Adrβ3KO mice were exposed to an 8-week multisensory stimulation (MS) protocol that comprised gustatory and olfactory stimuli of positive and negative valence; intellectual challenges to reach food; the use of hidden objects; and the presentation of food in ways that prompted foraging, which was followed by analysis of GFAP, Iba-1 and EAAT2 protein expression in the hippocampus (HC) and amygdala (AMY). The MS protocol reduced GFAP and Iba-1 expression in the HC of young mice but not in older mice. While this protocol restored memory impairment when applied to Adrβ3KO animals immediately after weaning, it had no effect when applied to adult animals. In fact, we observed that aging worsened the memory of Adrβ3KO mice. In the AMY of Adrβ3KO older mice, we observed an increase in GFAP and EAAT2 expression when compared to wild-type (WT) mice that MS was unable to reduce. These results suggest that a richer and more diverse environment helps to correct memory impairment when applied immediately after weaning in Adrβ3KO animals and indicates that the control of neuroinflammation mediates this response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thaís T Ravache
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Distúrbios do Desenvolvimento, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie, São Paulo 01302-907, SP, Brazil
| | - Alice Batistuzzo
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Distúrbios do Desenvolvimento, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie, São Paulo 01302-907, SP, Brazil
| | - Gabriela G Nunes
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Distúrbios do Desenvolvimento, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie, São Paulo 01302-907, SP, Brazil
| | - Thiago G B Gomez
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Distúrbios do Desenvolvimento, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie, São Paulo 01302-907, SP, Brazil
| | - Fernanda B Lorena
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Distúrbios do Desenvolvimento, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie, São Paulo 01302-907, SP, Brazil
- Departamento de Medicina Translacional, Universidade Federal de São Paulo 04023-062, SP, Brazil
| | - Bruna P P Do Nascimento
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Distúrbios do Desenvolvimento, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie, São Paulo 01302-907, SP, Brazil
- Departamento de Medicina Translacional, Universidade Federal de São Paulo 04023-062, SP, Brazil
| | - Maria Martha Bernardi
- Graduate Program in Environmental and Experimental Pathology, Paulista University, São Paulo 04026-002, SP, Brazil
| | - Eduarda R R Lima
- Laboratory of Neuroscience, Hospital Sírio-Libanês, São Paulo 01308-050, SP, Brazil
| | - Daniel O Martins
- Laboratory of Neuroscience, Hospital Sírio-Libanês, São Paulo 01308-050, SP, Brazil
| | - Ana Carolina P Campos
- Laboratory of Neuroscience, Hospital Sírio-Libanês, São Paulo 01308-050, SP, Brazil
- Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON M4N 3M5, Canada
| | - Rosana L Pagano
- Laboratory of Neuroscience, Hospital Sírio-Libanês, São Paulo 01308-050, SP, Brazil
| | - Miriam O Ribeiro
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Distúrbios do Desenvolvimento, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie, São Paulo 01302-907, SP, Brazil
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Ferreira de Sá N, Camarini R, Suchecki D. One day away from mum has lifelong consequences on brain and behaviour. Neuroscience 2023:S0306-4522(23)00276-2. [PMID: 37352967 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2023.06.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Revised: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/25/2023]
Abstract
This chapter presents a brief overview of attachment theory and discusses the importance of the neonatal period in shaping an individual's physiological and behavioural responses to stress later in life, with a focus on the role of the parent-infant relationship, particularly in rodents. In rodents, the role of maternal behaviours goes far beyond nutrition, thermoregulation and excretion, acting as hidden regulators of the pup's physiology and development. In this review, we will discuss the inhibitory role of specific maternal behaviours on the ACTH and corticosterone (CORT) stress response. The interest of our group to explore the long-term consequences of maternal deprivation for 24 h (DEP) at different ages (3 days and 11 days) in rats was sparked by its opposite effects on ACTH and CORT levels. In early adulthood, DEP3 animals (males and females alike) show greater negative impact on affective behaviours and stress related parameters than DEP11, indicating that the latter is more resilient in tests of anxiety-like behaviour. These findings create an opportunity to explore the neurobiological underpinnings of vulnerability and resilience to stress-related disorders. The chapter also provides a brief historical overview and highlights the relevance of attachment theory, and how DEP helps to understand the effects of childhood parental loss as a risk factor for depression, schizophrenia, and PTSD in both childhood and adulthood. Furthermore, we present the concept of environmental enrichment (EE), its effects on stress responses and related behavioural changes and its benefits for rats previously subjected to DEP, along with the clinical implications of DEP and EE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natália Ferreira de Sá
- Department of Psychobiology - Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo
| | - Rosana Camarini
- Department of Pharmacology - Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo
| | - Deborah Suchecki
- Department of Psychobiology - Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo.
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Landolfo E, Cutuli D, Decandia D, Balsamo F, Petrosini L, Gelfo F. Environmental Enrichment Protects against Neurotoxic Effects of Lipopolysaccharide: A Comprehensive Overview. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24065404. [PMID: 36982478 PMCID: PMC10049264 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24065404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuroinflammation is a pathophysiological condition associated with damage to the nervous system. Maternal immune activation and early immune activation have adverse effects on the development of the nervous system and cognitive functions. Neuroinflammation during adulthood leads to neurodegenerative diseases. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is used in preclinical research to mimic neurotoxic effects leading to systemic inflammation. Environmental enrichment (EE) has been reported to cause a wide range of beneficial changes in the brain. Based on the above, the purpose of the present review is to describe the effects of exposure to EE paradigms in counteracting LPS-induced neuroinflammation throughout the lifespan. Up to October 2022, a methodical search of studies in the literature, using the PubMed and Scopus databases, was performed, focusing on exposure to LPS, as an inflammatory mediator, and to EE paradigms in preclinical murine models. On the basis of the inclusion criteria, 22 articles were considered and analyzed in the present review. EE exerts sex- and age-dependent neuroprotective and therapeutic effects in animals exposed to the neurotoxic action of LPS. EE’s beneficial effects are present throughout the various ages of life. A healthy lifestyle and stimulating environments are essential to counteract the damages induced by neurotoxic exposure to LPS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugenia Landolfo
- IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Via Ardeatina 306, 00179 Rome, Italy
| | - Debora Cutuli
- IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Via Ardeatina 306, 00179 Rome, Italy
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via dei Marsi 78, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Davide Decandia
- IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Via Ardeatina 306, 00179 Rome, Italy
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via dei Marsi 78, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Balsamo
- IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Via Ardeatina 306, 00179 Rome, Italy
- Department of Human Sciences, Guglielmo Marconi University, Via Plinio 44, 00193 Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Petrosini
- IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Via Ardeatina 306, 00179 Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Gelfo
- IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Via Ardeatina 306, 00179 Rome, Italy
- Department of Human Sciences, Guglielmo Marconi University, Via Plinio 44, 00193 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence:
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Barrera ED, Timken PD, Lee E, Persaud KRS, Goldstein H, Parasram DN, Vashisht A, Ranaldi R. Environmental enrichment facilitates electric barrier induced heroin abstinence after incubation of craving in male and female rats. Drug Alcohol Depend 2023; 244:109799. [PMID: 36774806 PMCID: PMC9982754 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2023.109799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Treatment strategies that aim to promote abstinence to heroin use and reduce vulnerability to drug-use resumption are limited in sustainability and long-term efficacy. We have previously shown that environmental enrichment (EE), when implemented after drug self-administration, reduces drug-seeking and promotes abstinence to cocaine and heroin in male rats. Here, we tested the effects of EE on abstinence in an animal conflict model in males and females, and after periods where incubation of craving may occur. METHODS Male and female rats were trained to self-administer heroin followed by 3 or 21 days of a no-event-interval (NEI). Following NEI, rats were permanently moved to environmental enrichment (EE) or new standard (nEE) housing 3 days prior to resuming self-administration in the presence of an electric barrier adjacent to the drug access lever. Electric barrier current was increased daily until rats ceased self-administration. RESULTS We found that 21 days of NEI led to significantly greater heroin self-administration and a trend toward shorter latencies to emit the first active lever press in the first abstinence session compared to 3 days of NEI. EE, when compared to nEE, led to longer latencies in the first abstinence session. Also, EE groups of both sexes and in both NEIs achieved abstinence criteria in significantly fewer numbers of sessions. CONCLUSIONS EE facilitates abstinence in males and females and after periods where incubation of craving may occur. This suggests that EE may benefit individuals attempting to abstain from heroin use and may aid in the development of long term treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eddy D Barrera
- Psychology Department, Queens College, 65-30 Kissena Blvd, Flushing, NY 11367, United States; The Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, NY 10016, United States.
| | - Patrick D Timken
- Psychology Department, Queens College, 65-30 Kissena Blvd, Flushing, NY 11367, United States.
| | - Elaine Lee
- Psychology Department, Queens College, 65-30 Kissena Blvd, Flushing, NY 11367, United States.
| | - Kirk R S Persaud
- Psychology Department, Queens College, 65-30 Kissena Blvd, Flushing, NY 11367, United States.
| | - Hindy Goldstein
- Psychology Department, Queens College, 65-30 Kissena Blvd, Flushing, NY 11367, United States.
| | - Daleya N Parasram
- Psychology Department, Queens College, 65-30 Kissena Blvd, Flushing, NY 11367, United States.
| | - Apoorva Vashisht
- Psychology Department, Queens College, 65-30 Kissena Blvd, Flushing, NY 11367, United States; The Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, NY 10016, United States.
| | - Robert Ranaldi
- Psychology Department, Queens College, 65-30 Kissena Blvd, Flushing, NY 11367, United States; The Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, NY 10016, United States.
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Nieves-Vázquez CI, Detrés-Marquéz AC, Torres-Reverón A, Appleyard CB, Llorens-De Jesús AP, Resto IN, López-Rodríguez V, Ramos-Echevarría PM, Castro EM, Flores I. Feasibility and acceptability of an adapted environmental enrichment intervention for endometriosis: A pilot study. Front Glob Womens Health 2023; 3:1058559. [PMID: 36683601 PMCID: PMC9846621 DOI: 10.3389/fgwh.2022.1058559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction We have previously shown that Environmental Enrichment (EE)-consisting of social support, novelty, and open spaces-decreased disease progression and anxiety in a rat model of endometriosis. We developed a novel EE intervention to be tested in a pilot randomized clinical trial (RCT) in patients with endometriosis, a painful, stressful disease. Objective To translate and evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of an adapted EE intervention as an adjuvant to standard-of-care for endometriosis patients. Methods Feasibility was assessed through recruitment, enrollment, and adherence rates. Acceptability was evaluated through a post-intervention survey and focus group discussion 3-months after the end of the intervention. Results Of the 103 subjects recruited, 64 were randomized to the intervention group and 39 to the control group. At the start of the intervention, the study groups consisted of 29 (intervention) and 27 (control) subjects. Enrollment rates were 45.3% and 69.2%, and adherence rates were 41.4% and 100% for the intervention and control groups, respectively. Delays resulting from natural events (earthquakes, the COVID-19 pandemic) impacted enrollment and adherence rates. The most common reasons for missing an intervention were period pain (39.1%) and work-study (34.8%). There was high acceptability (>80%) of the intervention's logistics. The majority (82.4%) of subjects would continue participating in support groups regularly, and 95.7% would recommend the intervention to other patients. Conclusions We showed that EE could be translated into an acceptable integrative multi-modal therapy perceived as valuable among participants who completed the intervention. High attrition/low adherence indicates that additional refinements would be needed to improve feasibility. Acceptability data indicate that EE has the potential to be integrated into the clinical management of patients with endometriosis and other inflammatory, painful disorders. Studies are ongoing to assess the efficacy of EE in improving pain symptoms, mental health, and quality of life (QoL).
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Annelyn Torres-Reverón
- Department of Basic Sciences, Ponce Health Science University, Ponce, Puerto Rico
- Sur180 Therapeutics, LLC, McAllen, TX, United States
| | - Caroline B. Appleyard
- School of Medicine, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, Puerto Rico
- Department of Basic Sciences, Ponce Health Science University, Ponce, Puerto Rico
- Sur180 Therapeutics, LLC, McAllen, TX, United States
| | | | - Ivana N. Resto
- School of Medicine, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, Puerto Rico
| | | | | | - Eida M. Castro
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, Puerto Rico
| | - Idhaliz Flores
- School of Medicine, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, Puerto Rico
- Department of Basic Sciences, Ponce Health Science University, Ponce, Puerto Rico
- Sur180 Therapeutics, LLC, McAllen, TX, United States
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, Puerto Rico
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Lichtenstein JLL, Schmitz OJ. Incorporating neurological and behavioral mechanisms of sociality into predator-prey models. Front Behav Neurosci 2023; 17:1122458. [PMID: 37138660 PMCID: PMC10149790 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1122458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Consumer-resource population models drive progress in predicting and understanding predation. However, they are often built by averaging the foraging outcomes of individuals to estimate per capita functional responses (functions that describe predation rate). Reliance on per-capita functional responses rests on the assumption that that individuals forage independently without affecting each other. Undermining this assumption, extensive behavioral neuroscience research has made clear that facilitative and antagonistic interactions among conspecifics frequently alter foraging through interference competition and persistent neurophysiological changes. For example, repeated social defeats dysregulates rodent hypothalamic signaling, modulating appetite. In behavioral ecology, similar mechanisms are studied under the concept of dominance hierarchies. Neurological and behavioral changes in response to conspecifics undoubtedly play some sort of role in the foraging of populations, but modern predator-prey theory does not explicitly include them. Here we describe how some modern approaches to population modeling might account for this. Further, we propose that spatial predator-prey models can be modified to describe plastic changes in foraging behavior driven by intraspecific interaction, namely individuals switching between patches or plastic strategies to avoid competition. Extensive neurological and behavioral ecology research suggests that interactions among conspecifics help shape populations' functional responses. Modeling interdependent functional responses woven together by behavioral and neurological mechanisms may thus be indispensable in predicting the outcome of consumer-resource interactions across systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- James L. L. Lichtenstein
- Department of Biology, Kenyon College, Gambier, OH, United States
- Yale School of the Environment, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
- *Correspondence: James L. L. Lichtenstein,
| | - Oswald J. Schmitz
- Yale School of the Environment, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
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42
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Chrzanowska A, Modlinska K, Goncikowska K, Pisula W. Rat's response to a novelty and increased complexity of the environment resulting from the introduction of movable vs. stationary objects in the free exploration test. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0279006. [PMID: 36538520 PMCID: PMC9767355 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0279006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Most animals, including rats, show a preference for more complex environments. This is demonstrated particularly well when complexity increases due to the addition of new elements to the environment. The aim of the study was to investigate the reaction to novelty, understood as a change in environmental properties that involve both changes in complexity and controllability. Controllability may allow for dealing with challenges of an environment of low predictability in a way that the animal's own activity reduces the uncertainty of environmental events. In our study, the animals underwent a spontaneous exploration test in low-stress conditions. After a period of habituation to the experimental arena, additional stationary (increased complexity) and/or movable (increased complexity and controllability) tunnels were introduced, and the reaction of the rats to the novel objects was measured. The results of the study confirmed that an increase in the complexity of the environment through the addition of objects triggers a more intensive exploratory activity in rats. However, an increased spatial complexity combined with the movability of the novel objects seems to result in increased caution towards the novelty after an initial inspection of the changed objects. It suggests that the complexity of the novelty may trigger both neophilia and neophobia depending on the level of the predictability of the novel environment and that the movability of newly introduced objects is not independent of other parameters of the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Chrzanowska
- Institute of Psychology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
- * E-mail:
| | | | | | - Wojciech Pisula
- Institute of Psychology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
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43
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Akinbo OI, McNeal N, Hylin M, Hite N, Dagner A, Grippo AJ. The Influence of Environmental Enrichment on Affective and Neural Consequences of Social Isolation Across Development. AFFECTIVE SCIENCE 2022; 3:713-733. [PMID: 36519141 PMCID: PMC9743881 DOI: 10.1007/s42761-022-00131-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Social stress is associated with depression and anxiety, physiological disruptions, and altered brain morphology in central stress circuitry across development. Environmental enrichment strategies may improve responses to social stress. Socially monogamous prairie voles exhibit analogous social and emotion-related behaviors to humans, with potential translational insight into interactions of social stress, age, and environmental enrichment. This study explored the effects of social isolation and environmental enrichment on behaviors related to depression and anxiety, physiological indicators of stress, and dendritic structural changes in amygdala and hippocampal subregions in young adult and aging prairie voles. Forty-nine male prairie voles were assigned to one of six groups divided by age (young adult vs. aging), social structure (paired vs. isolated), and housing environment (enriched vs. non-enriched). Following 4 weeks of these conditions, behaviors related to depression and anxiety were investigated in the forced swim test and elevated plus maze, body and adrenal weights were evaluated, and dendritic morphology analyses were conducted in hippocampus and amygdala subregions. Environmental enrichment decreased immobility duration in the forced swim test, increased open arm exploration in the elevated plus maze, and reduced adrenal/body weight ratio in aging and young adult prairie voles. Age and social isolation influenced dendritic morphology in the basolateral amygdala. Age, but not social isolation, influenced dendritic morphology in the hippocampal dentate gyrus. Environmental enrichment did not influence dendritic morphology in either brain region. These data may inform interventions to reduce the effects of social stressors and age-related central changes associated with affective behavioral consequences in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oreoluwa I. Akinbo
- Department of Psychology, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL 60115 USA
| | - Neal McNeal
- Department of Psychology, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL 60115 USA
| | - Michael Hylin
- Department of Psychology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901 USA
| | - Natalee Hite
- Department of Physiology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL, 62901, USA
| | - Ashley Dagner
- Department of Psychology, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL 60115 USA
| | - Angela J. Grippo
- Department of Psychology, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL 60115 USA
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Potrebić MS, Pavković ŽZ, Srbovan MM, Ðmura GM, Pešić VT. Changes in the Behavior and Body Weight of Mature, Adult Male Wistar Han Rats after Reduced Social Grouping and Social Isolation. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR LABORATORY ANIMAL SCIENCE : JAALAS 2022; 61:615-623. [PMID: 36328417 PMCID: PMC9732776 DOI: 10.30802/aalas-jaalas-22-000032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Changes in housing density, including individual housing, are commonly necessary in animal research. Obtaining reproducibility and translational validity in biomedical research requires an understanding of how animals adapt to changes in housing density. Existing literature mainly addresses acclimatization after transportation. We used a within-subject design to examine changes in behavior and weight gain of 4-mo-old male Wistar Han rats after reduction of their social group (RSG; due to removal of one rat from a cage containing 3 rats) and social isolation (SI; the removed rat) for the subsequent 2 wk. Changes in weight gain and in exploratory and center-avoidance behavior in an inescapable open arena (OA) were measured before (D0) and on days 7 and 14 (D7 and D14, respectively) after social change. The motor response to d-amphetamine (1.5 mg/kg), which stimulates behavioral arousal in response to novelty, was assessed at D14. Within-subject design revealed that RSG rats in OA had less locomotion at D7 but not more center-avoidance behavior and had returned to the D0 activity level at D14; SI rats in OA had consistently less locomotion and more center-avoidance behavior. Rearing behavior during OA exposure did not change in either group. However, SI rats showed more center-avoidance behavior in OA, greater weight gain, and less amphetamine-induced rearing at D14 as compared with RSG rats. These data indicate that after RSG, mature adult male rats require 2 wk to return to their baseline level of OA-related behavior, while after SI they gain weight and acquire maladaptive exploratory and center-avoidance behavior. The finding that SI produces maladaptive behavioral and physiologic alterations in adult male rats deserves attention because these changes could have confounding effects on research findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milica S Potrebić
- Department of Neurobiology, Institute for Biological Research Siniša Stanković – National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Željko Z Pavković
- Department of Neurobiology, Institute for Biological Research Siniša Stanković – National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Maja M Srbovan
- Department of Neurobiology, Institute for Biological Research Siniša Stanković – National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Goran M Ðmura
- Animal Facility, Institute for Biological Research Siniša Stanković – National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Vesna T Pešić
- Department of Neurobiology, Institute for Biological Research Siniša Stanković – National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia,,Corresponding author.
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Manosso LM, Broseghini LDR, Campos JMB, Padilha APZ, Botelho MEM, da Costa MA, Abelaira HM, Gonçalves CL, Réus GZ. Beneficial effects and neurobiological aspects of environmental enrichment associated to major depressive disorder and autism spectrum disorder. Brain Res Bull 2022; 190:152-167. [PMID: 36191730 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2022.09.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
A suitable enriched environment favors development but can also influence behavior and neuronal circuits throughout development. Studies have shown that environmental enrichment (EE) can be used as an essential tool or combined with conventional treatments to improve psychiatric and neurological symptoms, including major depressive disorder (MDD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Both disorders affect a significant percentage of the world's population and have complex pathophysiology. Moreover, the available treatments for MDD and ASD are still inadequate for many affected individuals. Experimental models demonstrate that EE has significant positive effects on behavioral modulation. In addition, EE has effects on neurobiology, including improvement in synaptic connections and neuroplasticity, modulation of neurotransmissions, a decrease in inflammation and oxidative stress, and other neurobiology effects that can be involved in the pathophysiology of MDD and ASD. Thus, this review aims to describe the leading behavioral and neurobiological effects associated with EE in MDD and ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luana M Manosso
- Translational Psychiatry Laboratory, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina (UNESC), Criciúma, SC, Brazil
| | - Lia D R Broseghini
- Translational Psychiatry Laboratory, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina (UNESC), Criciúma, SC, Brazil
| | - José Marcelo B Campos
- Experimental Neurology Laboratory, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina (UNESC), Criciúma, SC, Brazil
| | - Alex Paulo Z Padilha
- Translational Psychiatry Laboratory, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina (UNESC), Criciúma, SC, Brazil
| | - Maria Eduarda M Botelho
- Translational Psychiatry Laboratory, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina (UNESC), Criciúma, SC, Brazil
| | - Maiara A da Costa
- Experimental Neurology Laboratory, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina (UNESC), Criciúma, SC, Brazil
| | - Helena M Abelaira
- Translational Psychiatry Laboratory, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina (UNESC), Criciúma, SC, Brazil
| | - Cinara L Gonçalves
- Experimental Neurology Laboratory, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina (UNESC), Criciúma, SC, Brazil
| | - Gislaine Z Réus
- Translational Psychiatry Laboratory, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina (UNESC), Criciúma, SC, Brazil.
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46
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Changes in Stereotypies: Effects over Time and over Generations. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12192504. [PMID: 36230246 PMCID: PMC9559266 DOI: 10.3390/ani12192504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2022] [Revised: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Herein, we propose that there should be discussion about the function and effects of stereotypies in relation to the time during which they are shown. In the first stages, stereotypies may help animals deal with challenges. However, behavior can potentially alter the brain, impairing its function due the absence of a diverse repertory, and change brain connections, neurophysiology and later neuroanatomy. The neuroanatomical changes in individuals showing stereotypies could be an effect rather than a cause of the stereotypy. As a consequence, studies showing different outcomes for animal welfare from stereotypy expression could be due to variation in a timeline of expression. Stereotypies are widely used as an animal welfare indicator, and their expression can tell us about psychological states. However, there are questions about the longer-term consequences if animals express stereotypies: do the stereotypies help in coping? During the prenatal period, stereotypic behavior expressed by the mother can change the phenotype of the offspring, especially regarding emotionality, one mechanism acting via methylation in the limbic system in the brain. Are individuals that show stereotypies for shorter or longer periods all better adjusted, and hence have better welfare, or is the later welfare of some worse than that of individuals that do not show the behavior? Abstract Stereotypies comprise a wide range of repeated and apparently functionless behaviors that develop in individuals whose neural condition or environment results in poor welfare. While stereotypies are an indicator of poor welfare at the time of occurrence, they may have various consequences. Environmental enrichment modifies causal factors and reduces the occurrence of stereotypies, providing evidence that stereotypies are an indicator of poor welfare. However, stereotypy occurrence and consequences change over time. Furthermore, there are complex direct and epigenetic effects when mother mammals that are kept in negative conditions do or do not show stereotypies. It is proposed that, when trying to deal with challenging situations, stereotypies might initially help animals to cope. After further time in the conditions, the performance of the stereotypy may impair brain function and change brain connections, neurophysiology and eventually neuroanatomy. It is possible that reported neuroanatomical changes are an effect of the stereotypy rather than a cause.
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47
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Love CJ, Gubert C, Renoir T, Hannan AJ. Environmental enrichment and exercise housing protocols for mice. STAR Protoc 2022; 3:101689. [PMID: 36125931 PMCID: PMC9493135 DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2022.101689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Revised: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Here, we present a protocol that allows comparison of the effects of the standard home cage, environmentally enriched home cage with additional super-enrichment, and the exercise (running wheels only) home cage in laboratory mice. We first describe the steps to assemble these three types of cages, respectively. We then detail the assembly of super-enrichment arenas, which provide additional stimulation beyond that provided by home-cage enrichment. This protocol can help to improve reproducibility of results from studies involving environmental enrichment and exercise by offering consistent housing conditions between laboratories. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Gubert et al. (2021).
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Affiliation(s)
- Chloe J. Love
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Carolina Gubert
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia,Corresponding author
| | - Thibault Renoir
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Anthony J. Hannan
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia,Department of Anatomy and Physiology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia,Corresponding author
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48
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Gattas S, Collett HA, Huff AE, Creighton SD, Weber SE, Buckhalter SS, Manning SA, Ryait HS, McNaughton BL, Winters BD. A rodent obstacle course procedure controls delivery of enrichment and enhances complex cognitive functions. NPJ SCIENCE OF LEARNING 2022; 7:21. [PMID: 36057661 PMCID: PMC9440923 DOI: 10.1038/s41539-022-00134-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Enrichment in rodents affects brain structure, improves behavioral performance, and is neuroprotective. Similarly, in humans, according to the cognitive reserve concept, enriched experience is functionally protective against neuropathology. Despite this parallel, the ability to translate rodent studies to human clinical situations is limited. This limitation is likely due to the simple cognitive processes probed in rodent studies and the inability to control, with existing methods, the degree of rodent engagement with enrichment material. We overcome these two difficulties with behavioral tasks that probe, in a fine-grained manner, aspects of higher-order cognition associated with deterioration with aging and dementia, and a new enrichment protocol, the 'Obstacle Course' (OC), which enables controlled enrichment delivery, respectively. Together, these two advancements will enable better specification (and comparisons) of the nature of impairments in animal models of complex mental disorders and the potential for remediation from various types of intervention (e.g., enrichment, drugs). We found that two months of OC enrichment produced substantial and sustained enhancements in categorization memory, perceptual object invariance, and cross-modal sensory integration in mice. We also tested mice on behavioral tasks previously shown to benefit from traditional enrichment: spontaneous object recognition, object location memory, and pairwise visual discrimination. OC enrichment improved performance relative to standard housing on all six tasks and was in most cases superior to conventional home-cage enrichment and exercise track groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Gattas
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA.
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA.
| | - Heather A Collett
- Department of Psychology and Collaborative Neuroscience Program, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Andrew E Huff
- Department of Psychology and Collaborative Neuroscience Program, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Samantha D Creighton
- Department of Psychology and Collaborative Neuroscience Program, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Siobhon E Weber
- Department of Psychology and Collaborative Neuroscience Program, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | | | - Silas A Manning
- Department of Psychology and Collaborative Neuroscience Program, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Hardeep S Ryait
- Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
| | - Bruce L McNaughton
- Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada.
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA.
| | - Boyer D Winters
- Department of Psychology and Collaborative Neuroscience Program, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada.
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49
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Batistuzzo A, de Almeida GG, Brás TS, Zucato VP, Arnold AJT, Giannocco G, Sato JM, Yamanouchi LM, Dias E, Lorena FB, do Nascimento BPP, Bianco AC, Ribeiro MO. Multisensory Stimulation Improves Cognition and Behavior in Adult Male Rats Born to LT4-treated Thyroidectomized Dams. Endocrinology 2022; 163:bqac105. [PMID: 35914267 PMCID: PMC9354969 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqac105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Gestational hypothyroidism can impair development, cognition, and mood. Here, we tested whether multisensory stimulation (MS) improves the phenotype of rats born to surgically thyroidectomized (Tx) dams suboptimally treated with LT4. 8-week-old female Tx Wistar rats were kept on daily LT4 (0.7 µg/100 g body weight) dosed by gavage (serum TSH and T4 levels indicated moderate hypothyroidism) and 3 weeks later placed for breeding. MS of the litter started at age 60 days and lasted for 8 weeks. It consisted of twice per week of physical, cognitive, sensorial, and food stimuli. The offspring were assessed before and after MS for standardized tests of locomotor activity, cognition, and mood. Gestational hypothyroidism resulted in reduced litter size and increased offspring mortality. The pups exhibited delayed physical development, impairment of short- and long-term memory, and anxiety- and depressive-like behaviors. Nonetheless, ambulatory activity, social memory, and social preference were not affected by gestational hypothyroidism. MS restored short-term memory and anxiety while improving depressive like-behaviors. MS did not improve long-term memory. MS also did not modify the performance of control litter born to intact dams. We conclude that cognition and mood impairments caused by moderate gestational hypothyroidism were reversed or minimized in rats through MS. Further studies should define the molecular mechanisms involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Batistuzzo
- Developmental Disorders Program, Center for Biological Sciences and Health, Mackenzie Presbyterian University, Sao Paulo SP 01302-907, Brazil
| | - Guilherme G de Almeida
- Developmental Disorders Program, Center for Biological Sciences and Health, Mackenzie Presbyterian University, Sao Paulo SP 01302-907, Brazil
| | - Tayna S Brás
- Developmental Disorders Program, Center for Biological Sciences and Health, Mackenzie Presbyterian University, Sao Paulo SP 01302-907, Brazil
| | - Victoria P Zucato
- Developmental Disorders Program, Center for Biological Sciences and Health, Mackenzie Presbyterian University, Sao Paulo SP 01302-907, Brazil
| | - Alexandre J T Arnold
- Developmental Disorders Program, Center for Biological Sciences and Health, Mackenzie Presbyterian University, Sao Paulo SP 01302-907, Brazil
| | - Gisele Giannocco
- Departamento de Medicina, Laboratório de Endocrinologia e Medicina Translacional, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, UNIFESP/EPM, e Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, UNIFESP, Diadema, SP 09972-270, Brazil
| | - Juliana M Sato
- Postgraduate Program in Translational Medicine, Department of Medicine, Paulista School of Medicine, Federal University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP 04021-001, Brazil
| | - Laís M Yamanouchi
- Developmental Disorders Program, Center for Biological Sciences and Health, Mackenzie Presbyterian University, Sao Paulo SP 01302-907, Brazil
| | - Eduardo Dias
- Developmental Disorders Program, Center for Biological Sciences and Health, Mackenzie Presbyterian University, Sao Paulo SP 01302-907, Brazil
| | - Fernanda B Lorena
- Postgraduate Program in Translational Medicine, Department of Medicine, Paulista School of Medicine, Federal University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP 04021-001, Brazil
| | - Bruna P P do Nascimento
- Postgraduate Program in Translational Medicine, Department of Medicine, Paulista School of Medicine, Federal University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP 04021-001, Brazil
| | - Antonio C Bianco
- Section of Adult and Pediatric Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Miriam O Ribeiro
- Developmental Disorders Program, Center for Biological Sciences and Health, Mackenzie Presbyterian University, Sao Paulo SP 01302-907, Brazil
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50
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Chang Y, Jang J, Cho J, Lee J, Son Y, Park S, Kim C. Seamless Capacitive Body Channel Wireless Power Transmission Toward Freely Moving Multiple Animals in an Animal Cage. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON BIOMEDICAL CIRCUITS AND SYSTEMS 2022; 16:714-725. [PMID: 35976817 DOI: 10.1109/tbcas.2022.3199455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Unstable wireless power transmission toward multiple living animals in an animal cage is one of the significant barriers to performing long-term and real-time neural monitoring in preclinical research. Here, seamless capacitive body channel (SCB) wireless power transmission (WPT) along with power management integrated circuit (PMIC) is designed using a standard 65 nm CMOS process. The SCB WPT enables stable wireless power transmission toward multiple 35 mm×20 mm×2 mm sized receivers (RXs) attached to freely moving animals in a 600 mm×600 mm×120 mm sized animal cage. By utilizing fringe-field capacitance and a body channel for wireless power link between the cage and RXs, the maximum difference in all measured power efficiencies in diverse scenarios is only 6.66 % with a 20 mW load. Even with a 90 ° RX rotation against the cage, power efficiency marks 17.76 %. Furthermore, an in-vivo experiment conducted with three untethered rats demonstrates the capability of continuous long-term power delivery in practical situations.
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