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Ham JR, Szabo M, Annor-Bediako J, Stark RA, Iwaniuk AN, Pellis SM. Quality not quantity: Deficient juvenile play experiences lead to altered medial prefrontal cortex neurons and sociocognitive skill deficits. Dev Psychobiol 2024; 66:e22456. [PMID: 38388195 DOI: 10.1002/dev.22456] [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: 08/26/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Reduced play experience over the juvenile period leads to adults with impoverished social skills and to anatomical and physiological aberrations of the neurons found in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Even rearing rats from high-playing strains with low-playing strains show these developmental consequences. In the present study, we evaluated whether low-playing rats benefit from being reared with higher playing peers. To test this, we reared male Fischer 344 rats (F344), typically thought to be a low-playing strain, with a Long-Evans (LE) peer, a relatively high-playing strain. As juveniles, F344 rats reared with LE rats experienced less play and lower quality play compared to those reared with another F344. As adults, the F344 rats reared with LE partners exhibited poorer social skills and the pyramidal neurons of their mPFC had larger dendritic arbors than F344 rats reared with same-strain peers. These findings show that being reared with a more playful partner does not improve developmental outcomes of F344 rats, rather the discordance in the play styles of F344 and LE rats leads to poorer outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jackson R Ham
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
| | - Madeline Szabo
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
| | | | - Rachel A Stark
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
| | - Andrew N Iwaniuk
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
| | - Sergio M Pellis
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
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Tymofiyeva O, Reeves KW, Shaw C, Lopez E, Aziz S, Max JE, Yang TT. A Systematic Review of MRI Studies and the "Emotional paiN and social Disconnect (END)" Brain Model of Suicidal Behavior in Youth. Behav Neurol 2023; 2023:7254574. [PMID: 37786433 PMCID: PMC10541999 DOI: 10.1155/2023/7254574] [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: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Risk of suicidal ideation and suicidal behaviors greatly increases during adolescence, and rates have risen dramatically over the past two decades. However, few risk factors or biomarkers predictive of suicidal ideation or attempted suicide have been identified in adolescents. Neuroimaging correlates hold potential for early identification of adolescents at increased risk of suicidality and risk stratification for those at high risk of suicide attempt. Methods In this systematic review, we evaluated neural regions and networks associated with suicidal ideation and suicide attempt in adolescents derived from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies. A total of 28 articles were included in this review. Results After descriptively synthesizing the literature, we propose the Emotional paiN and social Disconnect (END) model of adolescent suicidality and present two key neural circuits: (1) the emotional/mental pain circuit and (2) the social disconnect/distortion circuit. In the END model, the emotional pain circuit-consisting of the cerebellum, amygdala, and hippocampus-shows similar aberrations in adolescents with suicidal ideation as in those with a history of a suicide attempt (but to a smaller degree). The social disconnect circuit is unique to adolescent suicide attempters and includes the lateral orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), the temporal gyri, and the connections between them. Conclusion Our proposed END brain model of suicidal behavior in youth, if confirmed by future prospective studies, can have implications for clinical goals of early detection, risk stratification, and intervention development. Treatments that target emotional pain and social disconnect may be ideal interventions for reducing suicidality in adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Tymofiyeva
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Katherine W. Reeves
- Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Chace Shaw
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The Langley Porter Psychiatric Institute, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Eric Lopez
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The Langley Porter Psychiatric Institute, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Sepehr Aziz
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The Langley Porter Psychiatric Institute, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Jeffrey E. Max
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
- Rady Children's Hospital, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Tony T. Yang
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The Langley Porter Psychiatric Institute, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
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Siviy SM, Martin MA, Campbell CM. Noradrenergic modulation of play in Sprague-Dawley and F344 rats. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2023:10.1007/s00213-023-06419-2. [PMID: 37428218 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-023-06419-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE For many mammals, engaging in social play behavior as a juvenile is important for cognitive, social, and emotional health as an adult. A playful phenotype reflects a dynamic interplay between genetic framework and experiences that operate on hard-wired brain systems so the relative lack of play in an otherwise playful species may be useful for identifying neural substrates that modulate play behavior. The inbred F344 rat has been identified as a strain that is consistently less playful than other strains commonly used in behavioral research. Norepinephrine (NE) acting on alpha-2 receptors has an inhibitory effect on play and F344 rats differ from a number of other strains in NE functioning. As such, the F344 rat may be particularly useful for gaining insight into NE involvement in play. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to determine whether the F344 rat is differentially sensitive to compounds that affect NE functioning and that are known to affect play behavior. METHODS Using pouncing and pinning to quantify play, the effects of the NE reuptake inhibitor atomoxetine, the NE alpha-2 receptor agonist guanfacine, and the NE alpha-2 receptor antagonist RX821002 on play behavior were assessed in juvenile Sprague-Dawley (SD) and F344 rats. RESULTS Atomoxetine and guanfacine reduced play in both SD and F344 rats. RX821002 increased pinning to a comparable extent in both strains but F344 rats were more sensitive to the play-enhancing effects of RX821002 on pounces. CONCLUSIONS Strain differences in NE alpha-2 receptor dynamics may contribute to the lower levels of play in F344 rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen M Siviy
- Department of Psychology, Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, PA, 17325, USA.
| | - Michelle A Martin
- Department of Psychology, Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, PA, 17325, USA
| | - Celeste M Campbell
- Department of Psychology, Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, PA, 17325, USA
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Stark RA, Brinkman B, Gibb RL, Iwaniuk AN, Pellis SM. Atypical play experiences in the juvenile period has an impact on the development of the medial prefrontal cortex in both male and female rats. Behav Brain Res 2023; 439:114222. [PMID: 36427590 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2022.114222] [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: 08/06/2022] [Revised: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
In rats reared without play, or with limited access to play during the juvenile period, the dendrites of pyramidal neurons of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) exhibit more branching than rats reared with more typical levels of play. This suggests that play is critical for pruning the dendritic arbor of these neurons. However, the rearing paradigms typically used to limit play involve physical separation from a peer or sharing a cage with an adult, causing stress that may disrupt pruning. To limit this potentially confounding source of stress, we used an alternative approach in this study: pairing playful Long Evans rats (LE) with low playing Fischer 344 (F344) rats throughout the juvenile period. We then examined the morphology of medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) neurons, predicting that pruning should be reduced. LE rats reared with another LE rat had significantly greater pruning of mPFC pyramidal neurons compared to LE rats reared with a F344 partner. Furthermore, in previous studies, only one sex or the other was used, whereas in the present rearing paradigm, both sexes were tested, showing that play influences neuronal pruning in both. The neurons of the play deficient LE rats not only occupied more space, as determined by convex hull analyses, but the dendrites were also longer than in rats with more typical play experiences. Unlike studies using more stressful rearing paradigms, the present effects were limited to the apical dendritic projections, suggesting that the previously reported effects on the basilar dendrites may have resulted from developmental disruptions caused by stress. If correct, the present findings indicate that play experienced over the juvenile period affects how mPFC neurons develop and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- R A Stark
- University of Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada.
| | - B Brinkman
- University of Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
| | - R L Gibb
- University of Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
| | | | - S M Pellis
- University of Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
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Pellis SM, Pellis VC, Ham JR, Stark RA. Play fighting and the development of the social brain: The rat's tale. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 145:105037. [PMID: 36621585 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
The benefits gained by young animals engaging in play fighting have been a subject of conjecture for over a hundred years. Progress in understanding the behavioral development of play fighting and the underlying neurobiology of laboratory rats has produced a coherent model that sheds light on this matter. Depriving rats of typical peer-peer play experience during the juvenile period leads to adults with socio-cognitive deficiencies and these are correlated with physiological and anatomical changes to the neurons of the prefrontal cortex, especially the medial prefrontal cortex. Detailed analysis of juvenile peer play has shown that using the abilities needed to ensure that play fighting is reciprocal is critical for attaining these benefits. Therefore, unlike that which was posited by many earlier hypotheses, play fighting does not train specific motor actions, but rather, improves a skill set that can be applied in many different social and non-social contexts. There are still gaps in the rat model that need to be understood, but the model is well-enough developed to provide a framework for broader comparative studies of mammals from diverse lineages that engage in play fighting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio M Pellis
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta T1K3M4, Canada.
| | - Vivien C Pellis
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta T1K3M4, Canada
| | - Jackson R Ham
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta T1K3M4, Canada
| | - Rachel A Stark
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta T1K3M4, Canada
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Bijlsma A, Omrani A, Spoelder M, Verharen JPH, Bauer L, Cornelis C, de Zwart B, van Dorland R, Vanderschuren LJMJ, Wierenga CJ. Social Play Behavior Is Critical for the Development of Prefrontal Inhibitory Synapses and Cognitive Flexibility in Rats. J Neurosci 2022; 42:8716-8728. [PMID: 36253083 PMCID: PMC9671579 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0524-22.2022] [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: 03/11/2022] [Revised: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Sensory driven activity during early life is critical for setting up the proper connectivity of the sensory cortices. We ask here whether social play behavior, a particular form of social interaction that is highly abundant during postweaning development, is equally important for setting up connections in the developing prefrontal cortex (PFC). Young male rats were deprived from social play with peers during the period in life when social play behavior normally peaks [postnatal day 21-42] (SPD rats), followed by resocialization until adulthood. We recorded synaptic currents in layer 5 cells in slices from medial PFC of adult SPD and control rats and observed that inhibitory synaptic currents were reduced in SPD slices, while excitatory synaptic currents were unaffected. This was associated with a decrease in perisomatic inhibitory synapses from parvalbumin-positive GABAergic cells. In parallel experiments, adult SPD rats achieved more reversals in a probabilistic reversal learning (PRL) task, which depends on the integrity of the PFC, by using a more simplified cognitive strategy than controls. Interestingly, we observed that one daily hour of play during SPD partially rescued the behavioral performance in the PRL, but did not prevent the decrease in PFC inhibitory synaptic inputs. Our data demonstrate the importance of unrestricted social play for the development of inhibitory synapses in the PFC and cognitive skills in adulthood and show that specific synaptic alterations in the PFC can result in a complex behavioral outcome.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT This study addressed the question whether social play behavior in juvenile rats contributes to functional development of the prefrontal cortex (PFC). We found that rats that had been deprived from juvenile social play (social play deprivation - SPD) showed a reduction in inhibitory synapses in the PFC and a simplified strategy to solve a complex behavioral task in adulthood. Providing one daily hour of play during SPD partially rescued the cognitive skills in these rats, but did not prevent the reduction in PFC inhibitory synapses. Our results demonstrate a key role for unrestricted juvenile social play in PFC development and emphasize the complex relation between PFC circuit connectivity and cognitive function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ate Bijlsma
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, 3584 CH, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Section Animals in Science and Society, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, 3584 CM, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Azar Omrani
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, 3584 CH, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Marcia Spoelder
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Section Animals in Science and Society, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, 3584 CM, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jeroen P H Verharen
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Section Animals in Science and Society, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, 3584 CM, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Lisa Bauer
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, 3584 CH, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Cosette Cornelis
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Section Animals in Science and Society, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, 3584 CM, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Beleke de Zwart
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Section Animals in Science and Society, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, 3584 CM, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - René van Dorland
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, 3584 CH, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Louk J M J Vanderschuren
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Section Animals in Science and Society, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, 3584 CM, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Corette J Wierenga
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, 3584 CH, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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7
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Pharmacological Strategies for Suicide Prevention Based on the Social Pain Model: A Scoping Review. PSYCH 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/psych4030038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Suicidal behaviour is a public health problem whose magnitude is both substantial and increasing. Since many individuals seek medical treatment following a suicide attempt, strategies aimed at reducing further attempts in this population are a valid and feasible secondary prevention approach. An evaluation of the available evidence suggests that existing treatment approaches have a limited efficacy in this setting, highlighting the need for innovative approaches to suicide prevention. Existing research on the neurobiology of social pain has highlighted the importance of this phenomenon as a risk factor for suicide, and has also yielded several attractive targets for pharmacological strategies that could reduce suicidality in patients with suicidal ideation or a recent attempt. In this paper, the evidence related to these targets is synthesized and critically evaluated. The way in which social pain is related to the “anti-suicidal” properties of recently approved treatments, such as ketamine and psilocybin, is examined. Such strategies may be effective for the short-term reduction in suicidal ideation and behaviour, particularly in cases where social pain is identified as a contributory factor. These pharmacological approaches may be effective regardless of the presence or absence of a specific psychiatric diagnosis, but they require careful evaluation.
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8
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Effects of endocannabinoid system modulation on social behaviour: A systematic review of animal studies. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 138:104680. [PMID: 35513169 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104680] [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: 05/25/2021] [Revised: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/09/2022]
Abstract
There is a clear link between psychiatric disorders and social behaviour, and evidence suggests the involvement of the endocannabinoid system (ECS). A systematic review of preclinical literature was conducted using MEDLINE (PubMed) and PsychINFO databases to examine whether pharmacological and/or genetic manipulations of the ECS alter social behaviours in wildtype (WT) animals or models of social impairment (SIM). Eighty studies were included. Risk of bias (RoB) was assessed using SYRCLE's RoB tool. While some variability was evident, studies most consistently found that direct cannabinoid receptor (CBR) agonism decreased social behaviours in WT animals, while indirect CBR activation via enzyme inhibition or gene-knockout increased social behaviours. Direct and, more consistently, indirect CBR activation reversed social deficits in SIM. These CBR-mediated effects were often sex- and developmental-phase-dependent and blocked by CBR antagonism. Overall, ECS enzyme inhibition may improve social behaviour in SIM, suggesting the potential usefulness of ECS enzyme inhibition as a therapeutic approach for social deficits. Future research should endeavour to elucidate ECS status in neuropsychiatric disorders characterized by social deficits.
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Stark RA, Pellis SM. Using the 'stranger test' to assess social competency in adult female Long Evans rats reared with a Fischer 344 partner. Behav Processes 2021; 192:104492. [PMID: 34478804 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2021.104492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Revised: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Rats reared with limited access to a play partner during the juvenile period develop into adults with impairments in various cognitive, emotional, and social skills. The present study assesses the consequences of play deprivation on adult social skills in female Long Evans (LE) rats that were reared with a low-playing Fischer 344 rat over the juvenile period. As adults, their social skills were assessed using the stranger paradigm, by pairing the deprived LE rats with a novel LE partner in a neutral arena. While the deprived rat engages its partner in play there were alterations in key aspects of play, such as reduced pinning and a longer latency to begin playing, that suggest there are impairments in the social ability of the deprived rat. Most notable were the changes in the behaviour of the typically reared partner, a reduction in the amount of play it initiated and fewer actions that produced reciprocal and prolonged interactions. The changes in the behaviour of the normally reared partner suggest that it detected subtle changes in the play deprived LE rats. These findings support the hypothesis that peer-peer play experiences during the juvenile period are important for the development of socio-cognitive skills.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel A Stark
- University of Lethbridge, 4401 Univerisity Drive W, Lethbridge, Alberta, T1K 3M4, Canada.
| | - Sergio M Pellis
- University of Lethbridge, 4401 Univerisity Drive W, Lethbridge, Alberta, T1K 3M4, Canada
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10
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Surakka A, Vengeliene V, Skorodumov I, Meinhardt M, Hansson AC, Spanagel R. Adverse social experiences in adolescent rats result in persistent sex-dependent effects on alcohol-seeking behavior. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2021; 45:1468-1478. [PMID: 34273113 DOI: 10.1111/acer.14640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2020] [Revised: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Accumulating clinical evidence suggests that women with prior exposure to adverse childhood experiences are more susceptible to heavy drinking and other health-related behaviors. Yet, preclinical studies investigating sex-dependent effects of adolescent adverse social experiences (ASEs) on later alcohol-seeking behavior are lacking. This is mainly due to the unavailability of valid animal models and a shortage of studies that compare effects in males and females. Therefore, we sought to investigate the sex-dependent effects of ASE on adult alcohol-seeking behavior, locomotion, and reward sensitivity in male and female rats. METHODS We recently developed a rat model for childhood/adolescent peer rejection that allows us to study the long-term consequences of ASEs. Adolescent Wistar rats were reared from postnatal day (pd) 21 to pd 50 either within a group of Fischer 344 rats (ASE) or within a group of Wistar rats (control). Wistar rats housed with Fischer 344 rats do not reciprocate social play in adolescence. This reduced play across adolescence mimics peer rejection and results in chronic dysregulation of social and pain-related behaviors. We tested adult male and female rats in the reinstatement paradigm for cue-induced alcohol-seeking behavior, circadian locomotor activity, and sucrose consumption long after the termination of the peer rejection condition. RESULTS Peer rejection induced persistent sex-dependent changes in alcohol cue-induced reinstatement. Females showed an increased reinstatement effect while peer-rejected males demonstrated a decrease. Sex differences were observed in locomotor activity or reward sensitivity to sucrose. CONCLUSIONS Peer rejection has long-lasting sex-dependent consequences on alcohol-seeking behavior without affecting locomotion or sweet reward sensitivity. Our results suggest that peer-rejected female rats represent a vulnerable population in which to study relapse-like behaviors that are similar to clinical findings, while males seem to buffer the peer rejection effect and demonstrate resilience to later life alcohol-seeking behaviors, as measured by the reinstatement effect. Finally, we provide a novel approach to investigate the molecular and neurobiological underpinnings of ASEs on alcohol and other drug-seeking behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akseli Surakka
- Institute of Psychopharmacology, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Valentina Vengeliene
- Institute of Psychopharmacology, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Ivan Skorodumov
- Institute of Psychopharmacology, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Marcus Meinhardt
- Institute of Psychopharmacology, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Anita C Hansson
- Institute of Psychopharmacology, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Rainer Spanagel
- Institute of Psychopharmacology, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
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11
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Kogo H, Maeda N, Kiyokawa Y, Takeuchi Y. Rats do not consider all unfamiliar strains to be equivalent. Behav Processes 2021; 190:104457. [PMID: 34216685 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2021.104457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2021] [Revised: 06/20/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Humans show distinct social behaviours when we recognise social similarity in opponents that are members of the same social group. However, little attention has been paid to the role of social similarity in non-human animals. In the Wistar subject rats, the presence of an unfamiliar Wistar rat mitigated stress responses, suggesting the importance of social similarity in this stress-buffering phenomenon. We subsequently found that the presence of unfamiliar Sprague-Dawley (SD) or Long-Evans (LE) rats, but not an unfamiliar Fischer 344 (F344) rat, similarly mitigated stress responses in the subject rats. It is therefore possible that the subject rats recognised social similarity to unfamiliar SD and LE rats. In this study, we demonstrated that the Wistar subject rats were capable of categorizing unfamiliar rats based on their strain, and that the Wistar subjects showed a preference for unfamiliar Wistar, SD, and LE rats over F344 rats. However, the subject rats did not show a preference among Wistar, SD, and LE rats. In addition, the results were not due to an aversion to F344 rats, and preference was not affected when anaesthetised rats were presented to the subject rats. The findings suggested that rats recognise social similarity to certain unfamiliar strains of rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroki Kogo
- Laboratory of Veterinary Ethology, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8657, Japan
| | - Naori Maeda
- Laboratory of Veterinary Ethology, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8657, Japan
| | - Yasushi Kiyokawa
- Laboratory of Veterinary Ethology, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8657, Japan.
| | - Yukari Takeuchi
- Laboratory of Veterinary Ethology, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8657, Japan
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12
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Wöhr M, Kisko TM, Schwarting RK. Social Behavior and Ultrasonic Vocalizations in a Genetic Rat Model Haploinsufficient for the Cross-Disorder Risk Gene Cacna1c. Brain Sci 2021; 11:brainsci11060724. [PMID: 34072335 PMCID: PMC8229447 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11060724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Revised: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The top-ranked cross-disorder risk gene CACNA1C is strongly associated with multiple neuropsychiatric dysfunctions. In a recent series of studies, we applied a genomically informed approach and contributed extensively to the behavioral characterization of a genetic rat model haploinsufficient for the cross-disorder risk gene Cacna1c. Because deficits in processing social signals are associated with reduced social functioning as commonly seen in neuropsychiatric disorders, we focused on socio-affective communication through 22-kHz and 50-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations (USV). Specifically, we applied a reciprocal approach for studying socio-affective communication in sender and receiver by including rough-and-tumble play and playback of 22-kHz and 50-kHz USV. Here, we review the findings obtained in this recent series of studies and link them to the key features of 50-kHz USV emission during rough-and-tumble play and social approach behavior evoked by playback of 22-kHz and 50-kHz USV. We conclude that Cacna1c haploinsufficiency in rats leads to robust deficits in socio-affective communication through 22-kHz and 50-kHz USV and associated alterations in social behavior, such as rough-and-tumble play behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus Wöhr
- Social and Affective Neuroscience Research Group, Laboratory of Biological Psychology, Research Unit Brain and Cognition, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Faculty of Psychology, Experimental and Biological Psychology, Behavioral Neuroscience, Philipps-University of Marburg, D-35032 Marburg, Germany; (T.M.K.); (R.K.W.S.)
- Center for Mind, Brain, and Behavior, Philipps-University of Marburg, D-35032 Marburg, Germany
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +32-16-19-45-57
| | - Theresa M. Kisko
- Faculty of Psychology, Experimental and Biological Psychology, Behavioral Neuroscience, Philipps-University of Marburg, D-35032 Marburg, Germany; (T.M.K.); (R.K.W.S.)
- Center for Mind, Brain, and Behavior, Philipps-University of Marburg, D-35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Rainer K.W. Schwarting
- Faculty of Psychology, Experimental and Biological Psychology, Behavioral Neuroscience, Philipps-University of Marburg, D-35032 Marburg, Germany; (T.M.K.); (R.K.W.S.)
- Center for Mind, Brain, and Behavior, Philipps-University of Marburg, D-35032 Marburg, Germany
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13
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Gellner AK, Voelter J, Schmidt U, Beins EC, Stein V, Philipsen A, Hurlemann R. Molecular and neurocircuitry mechanisms of social avoidance. Cell Mol Life Sci 2020; 78:1163-1189. [PMID: 32997200 PMCID: PMC7904739 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-020-03649-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2020] [Revised: 09/09/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Humans and animals live in social relationships shaped by actions of approach and avoidance. Both are crucial for normal physical and mental development, survival, and well-being. Active withdrawal from social interaction is often induced by the perception of threat or unpleasant social experience and relies on adaptive mechanisms within neuronal networks associated with social behavior. In case of confrontation with overly strong or persistent stressors and/or dispositions of the affected individual, maladaptive processes in the neuronal circuitries and its associated transmitters and modulators lead to pathological social avoidance. This review focuses on active, fear-driven social avoidance, affected circuits within the mesocorticolimbic system and associated regions and a selection of molecular modulators that promise translational potential. A comprehensive review of human research in this field is followed by a reflection on animal studies that offer a broader and often more detailed range of analytical methodologies. Finally, we take a critical look at challenges that could be addressed in future translational research on fear-driven social avoidance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne-Kathrin Gellner
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Jella Voelter
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Oldenburg, Hermann-Ehlers-Str. 7, 26160, Bad Zwischenahn, Germany
| | - Ulrike Schmidt
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127, Bonn, Germany.,Department of Psychiatry Und Psychotherapy, University of Göttingen, Von-Siebold-Str. 5, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Eva Carolina Beins
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Valentin Stein
- Institute of Physiology II, University Hospital Bonn, 53115, Bonn, Germany
| | - Alexandra Philipsen
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - René Hurlemann
- Division of Medical Psychology, Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127, Bonn, Germany. .,Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Oldenburg, Hermann-Ehlers-Str. 7, 26160, Bad Zwischenahn, Germany. .,Research Center Neurosensory Science, University of Oldenburg, 26129, Oldenburg, Germany.
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14
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O'Sullivan G, Humphrey RM, Thornton AM, Kerr DM, McGuire BE, Caes L, Roche M. Maternal presence or absence alters nociceptive responding and cortical anandamide levels in juvenile female rats. Behav Brain Res 2020; 392:112712. [PMID: 32479851 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2020.112712] [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: 02/28/2020] [Revised: 04/21/2020] [Accepted: 05/16/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
The influence of parental support on child pain experiences is well recognised. Accordingly, animal studies have revealed both short- and long-term effects of early life stress on nociceptive responding and neural substrates such as endocannabinoids. The endocannabinoid system plays an important role in mediating and modulating stress, social interaction, and nociception. This study examined the effects of maternal support or acute isolation on nociceptive responding of female rats to a range of stimuli during the juvenile pre-adolescent period and accompanying changes in the endocannabinoid system. The data revealed that juvenile female Sprague Dawley rats (PND21-24) isolated from the dam for 1 h prior to nociceptive testing exhibited increased latency to withdraw in the hot plate test and increased mechanical withdrawal threshold in the Von Frey test, compared to rats tested in the presence of the dam. Furthermore, isolated rats exhibited reduced latency to respond in the acetone drop test and enhanced nociceptive responding in the formalin test when compared to dam-paired counterparts. Anandamide, but not 2-AG, levels were reduced in the prefrontal cortex of dam-paired, but not isolated, juvenile rats following nociceptive testing. There was no change in the expression of CB1, FAAH or MAGL; however, CB2 receptor expression was reduced in both dam-paired and isolated rats following nociceptive testing. Taken together the data demonstrate that brief social isolation or the presence of the dam modulates nociceptive responding of juvenile rat pups in a modality specific manner, and suggest a possible role for the endocannabinoid system in the prefrontal cortex in sociobehavioural pain responses during early life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace O'Sullivan
- Centre for Pain Research, National University of Ireland Galway, Ireland; School of Psychology, National University of Ireland Galway, Ireland
| | - Rachel M Humphrey
- Physiology, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland Galway, Ireland; Centre for Pain Research, National University of Ireland Galway, Ireland; Galway Neuroscience Centre, National University of Ireland Galway, Ireland
| | - Aoife M Thornton
- Physiology, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland Galway, Ireland; Galway Neuroscience Centre, National University of Ireland Galway, Ireland
| | - Daniel M Kerr
- Galway Neuroscience Centre, National University of Ireland Galway, Ireland; Pharmacology, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland Galway, Ireland
| | - Brian E McGuire
- Centre for Pain Research, National University of Ireland Galway, Ireland; School of Psychology, National University of Ireland Galway, Ireland
| | - Line Caes
- Psychology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Scotland, UK
| | - Michelle Roche
- Physiology, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland Galway, Ireland; Centre for Pain Research, National University of Ireland Galway, Ireland; Galway Neuroscience Centre, National University of Ireland Galway, Ireland.
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15
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Siviy SM. How strain differences could help decipher the neurobiology of mammalian playfulness: What the less playful Fischer 344 rat can tell us about play. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PLAY 2020; 9:9-24. [PMID: 33717643 PMCID: PMC7954129 DOI: 10.1080/21594937.2020.1721024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2019] [Accepted: 12/10/2019] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Play is common among the young of many mammalian species. How that play is exhibited results from a dynamic interplay between genetic framework and experiential influences that, in turn, operate on hard-wired brain systems. One approach towards understanding how genes and environment interact with brain substrates to yield a particular playful phenotype is to take advantage of inbred strains of rats that come with a known genetic identity and assess the effects of varying early social experiences and targeted neurobiological interventions on rats of these strains. This paper primarily summarizes research utilizing the F344 inbred strain, a rat that consistently plays less than most other strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen M Siviy
- Dept. of Psychology, Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, PA 17325, USA
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16
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Abstract
Abstract
Play is an important and understudied class of phenomena that likely serves a critical role in the ontogeny and maintenance of fitness-enhancing behaviors. Many species exhibit little or no play. Among those animals that do play, some exhibit only very simple forms, while others engage in complex play both solitarily and socially. Likewise, some animals play only as juveniles, while others continue to play as adults. We propose a general framework to explain interspecies variation in the evolution and emergence of simple vs. complex forms of play, supported by both a review of the empirical evidence and a novel mathematical model. The emergence of play requires that initial investment returns benefits that sufficiently compensate the opportunity costs associated with simple play. The subsequent evolution of complex play depends upon the interplay of several life-history factors related to the benefits, costs, and time course of play investment. We conclude with implications for understanding the evolution of play across the animal kingdom.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul E Smaldino
- Department of Cognitive and Information Sciences, University of California, Merced, CA, USA
| | - Elisabetta Palagi
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa. Lungarno Antonio Pacinotti, Pisa PI, Italy
| | - Gordon M Burghardt
- Departments of Psychology and Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - Sergio M Pellis
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
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17
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Schank JC, Burghardt GM, Pellis SM. Toward a Theory of the Evolution of Fair Play. Front Psychol 2018; 9:1167. [PMID: 30087629 PMCID: PMC6066575 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2017] [Accepted: 06/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Juvenile animals of many species engage in social play, but its functional significance is not well understood. This is especially true for a type of social play called fair play (Fp). Social play often involves behavioral patterns similar to adult behaviors (e.g., fighting, mating, and predatory activities), but young animals often engage in Fp behaviors such as role-reversals and self-handicapping, which raises the evolutionary problem of why Fp exists. A long-held working hypothesis, tracing back to the 19th century, is that social play provides contexts in which adult social skills needed for adulthood can be learned or, at least, refined. On this hypothesis, Fp may have evolved for adults to acquire skills for behaving fairly in the sense of equitable distribution of resources or treatment of others. We investigated the evolution of Fp using an evolutionary agent-based model of populations of social agents that learn adult fair behavior (Fb) by engaging in Fp as juveniles. In our model, adults produce offspring by accumulating resources over time through foraging. Adults can either behave selfishly by keeping the resources they forage or they can pool them, subsequently dividing the pooled resources after each round of foraging. We found that fairness as equitability was beneficial especially when resources were large but difficult to obtain and led to the evolution of Fp. We conclude by discussing the implications of this model, for developing more rigorous theory on the evolution of social play, and future directions for theory development by modeling the evolution of play.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey C Schank
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Gordon M Burghardt
- Departments of Psychology and Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Knoxville, TN, United States
| | - Sergio M Pellis
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
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18
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Abstract
Play is an important part of normal childhood development and seen in many mammals, including rats. To better understand the interplay between genotype and postnatal experiences, the effects of neonatal handling on play were assessed in Lewis (LEW) and Fischer 344 (F344) rats. Handled litters experienced brief periods of separation during the first two postnatal weeks. F344 rats were less likely to direct nape contacts toward an untreated Sprague-Dawley (SD) partner and less likely to rotate to a supine position in response to a nape contact. When compared to rats from control litters, handled LEW, and F344 rats were more likely to respond to nape contacts with complete rotations, suggesting that handling increased playful responsiveness to a comparable extent in both strains. SD rats paired with handled inbred rats had more nape contacts than those paired with non-handled rats. While handled LEW rats also tended to direct more nape contacts to the SD partner than non-handled LEW rats there was no difference between handled and non-handled F344 rats. These results could not be readily explained by handling-induced changes in either maternal care or anxiety. These data suggest that the behavioral consequences of neonatal handling may not depend to a great extent on the genetic platform that these manipulations are acting on. These data also suggest that the ability to maintain the ebb and flow between playful solicitation and playful responsiveness may be compromised in F344 rats and may contribute to the lower levels of play in this strain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen M Siviy
- Department of Psychology, Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
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19
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Pellis SM, Burke CJ, Kisko TM, Euston DR. 50-kHz Vocalizations, Play and the Development of Social Competence. HANDBOOK OF ULTRASONIC VOCALIZATION - A WINDOW INTO THE EMOTIONAL BRAIN 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-809600-0.00011-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
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20
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Herzog JI, Schmahl C. Adverse Childhood Experiences and the Consequences on Neurobiological, Psychosocial, and Somatic Conditions Across the Lifespan. Front Psychiatry 2018; 9:420. [PMID: 30233435 PMCID: PMC6131660 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 243] [Impact Index Per Article: 40.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2018] [Accepted: 08/15/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Adverse childhood experiences (ACE) such as sexual and physical abuse or neglect are frequent in childhood and constitute a massive stressor with long-lasting adverse effects on the brain, mental and physical health.The aim of this qualitative review is to present a concise overview of the present literature on the impact of ACE on neurobiology, mental and somatic health in later adulthood. Methods: The authors reviewed the existing literature on the impact of ACE on neurobiology, mental and somatic health in later adulthood and summarized the results for a concise qualitative overview. Results: In adulthood, the history of ACE can result in complex clinical profiles with several co-occurring mental and somatic disorders such as posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, borderline personality disorder, obesity and diabetes. Although a general stress effect in the development of the disorders and neural alterations can be assumed, the role of type and timing of ACE is of particular interest in terms of prevention and treatment of ACE-related mental and somatic conditions. It has been suggested that during certain vulnerable developmental phases the risk for subsequent ACE-related disorders is increased. Moreover, emerging evidence points to sensitive periods and specificity of ACE-subtypes in the development of neurobiological alterations, e.g., volumetric and functional changes in the amygdala and hippocampus. Conclusion: Longitudinal studies are needed to investigate complex ACE-related characteristics and mechanisms relevant for mental and somatic disorders by integrating state of the art knowledge and methods. By identifying and validating psychosocial and somatic risk factors and diagnostic markers one might improve the development of innovative somatic and psychological treatment options for individuals suffering from ACE-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia I Herzog
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Christian Schmahl
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany.,Department of Psychiatry, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada
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21
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Ultrasonic communication in rats: appetitive 50-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations as social contact calls. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-017-2427-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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22
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23
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24
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Schneider P, Bindila L, Schmahl C, Bohus M, Meyer-Lindenberg A, Lutz B, Spanagel R, Schneider M. Adverse Social Experiences in Adolescent Rats Result in Enduring Effects on Social Competence, Pain Sensitivity and Endocannabinoid Signaling. Front Behav Neurosci 2016; 10:203. [PMID: 27812328 PMCID: PMC5071316 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2016.00203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2016] [Accepted: 10/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Social affiliation is essential for many species and gains significant importance during adolescence. Disturbances in social affiliation, in particular social rejection experiences during adolescence, affect an individual’s well-being and are involved in the emergence of psychiatric disorders. The underlying mechanisms are still unknown, partly because of a lack of valid animal models. By using a novel animal model for social peer-rejection, which compromises adolescent rats in their ability to appropriately engage in playful activities, here we report on persistent impairments in social behavior and dysregulations in the endocannabinoid (eCB) system. From postnatal day (pd) 21 to pd 50 adolescent female Wistar rats were either reared with same-strain partners (control) or within a group of Fischer 344 rats (inadequate social rearing, ISR), previously shown to serve as inadequate play partners for the Wistar strain. Adult ISR animals showed pronounced deficits in social interaction, social memory, processing of socially transmitted information, and decreased pain sensitivity. Molecular analysis revealed increased CB1 receptor (CB1R) protein levels and CP55, 940 stimulated [35S]GTPγS binding activity specifically in the amygdala and thalamus in previously peer-rejected rats. Along with these changes, increased levels of the eCB anandamide (AEA) and a corresponding decrease of its degrading enzyme fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) were seen in the amygdala. Our data indicate lasting consequences in social behavior and pain sensitivity following peer-rejection in adolescent female rats. These behavioral impairments are accompanied by persistent alterations in CB1R signaling. Finally, we provide a novel translational approach to characterize neurobiological processes underlying social peer-rejection in adolescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peggy Schneider
- Research Group Developmental Neuropsychopharmacology, Institute of Psychopharmacology, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of HeidelbergMannheim, Germany; Institute of Psychopharmacology, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of HeidelbergMannheim, Germany
| | - Laura Bindila
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz Mainz, Germany
| | - Christian Schmahl
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg Mannheim, Germany
| | - Martin Bohus
- Institute for Psychiatric and Psychosomatic Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of HeidelbergMannheim, Germany; Faculty of Health, University of AntwerpAntwerp, Belgium
| | - Andreas Meyer-Lindenberg
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg Mannheim, Germany
| | - Beat Lutz
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz Mainz, Germany
| | - Rainer Spanagel
- Institute of Psychopharmacology, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg Mannheim, Germany
| | - Miriam Schneider
- Research Group Developmental Neuropsychopharmacology, Institute of Psychopharmacology, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of HeidelbergMannheim, Germany; Institute of Psychopharmacology, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of HeidelbergMannheim, Germany
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25
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Rodriguez CI, Magcalas CM, Barto D, Fink BC, Rice JP, Bird CW, Davies S, Pentkowski NS, Savage DD, Hamilton DA. Effects of sex and housing on social, spatial, and motor behavior in adult rats exposed to moderate levels of alcohol during prenatal development. Behav Brain Res 2016; 313:233-243. [PMID: 27424779 PMCID: PMC4987176 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2016.07.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2016] [Revised: 07/07/2016] [Accepted: 07/11/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Persistent deficits in social behavior, motor behavior, and behavioral flexibility are among the major negative consequences associated with exposure to ethanol during prenatal development. Prior work from our laboratory has linked moderate prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) in the rat to deficits in these behavioral domains, which depend upon the ventrolateral frontal cortex (Hamilton et al., 2014) [20]. Manipulations of the social environment cause modifications of dendritic morphology and experience-dependent immediate early gene expression in ventrolateral frontal cortex (Hamilton et al., 2010) [19], and may yield positive behavioral outcomes following PAE. In the present study we evaluated the effects of housing PAE rats with non-exposed control rats on adult behavior. Rats of both sexes were either paired with a partner from the same prenatal treatment condition (ethanol or saccharin) or from the opposite condition (mixed housing condition). At four months of age (∼3 months after the housing manipulation commenced), social behavior, tongue protrusion, and behavioral flexibility in the Morris water task were measured as in (Hamilton et al., 2014) [20]. The behavioral effects of moderate PAE were primarily limited to males and were not ameliorated by housing with a non-ethanol exposed partner. Unexpectedly, social behavior, motor behavior, and spatial flexibility were adversely affected in control rats housed with a PAE rat (i.e., in mixed housing), indicating that housing with a PAE rat has broad behavioral consequences beyond the social domain. These observations provide further evidence that moderate PAE negatively affects social behavior, and underscore the importance of considering potential negative effects of housing with PAE animals on the behavior of critical comparison groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos I Rodriguez
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Christy M Magcalas
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Daniel Barto
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Brandi C Fink
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - James P Rice
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Clark W Bird
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Suzy Davies
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Nathan S Pentkowski
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Daniel D Savage
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States; Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Derek A Hamilton
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States; Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States.
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