Biological correlates of attachment bond disruption in humans and nonhuman primates

Abstract

Separations or disruptions in attachment bonds occur frequently in the social lives of humans and have been linked to the development of psychopathology. Separation of social nonhuman primates has been proposed as a model to study the psychological and biological effects of separation in humans. This paper reviews the biological alterations that occur in nonhuman primates undergoing separation and compares these with changes associated with separation in humans. The data reviewed demonstrate that separation in humans and nonhuman primates can be an event with profound behavioral and physiological sequelae.

Gene–environment interaction affects substance P and neurokinin A in the entorhinal cortex and periaqueductal grey in a genetic animal model of depression: implications for the pathophysiology of depression

“…Previous investigations of the biological consequences of early maternal deprivation have employed healthy experimental animals. Such studies have reported increased CRHmRNA and immunoreactivity levels in the hypothalamus, adrenal hypertrophy, and a prolonged stress-induced ACTH and corticosterone response (Heim et al, 1997 ;Husum and Mathé, 2002 ;Kalin and Carnes, 1984 ;Ladd et al, 1996 ;Meaney et al, 1988 ;Penke et al, 2001 ;Pihoker et al, 1993 ;Plotsky and Meaney, 1993 ;Rots et al, 1996). These reports suggest that maternal deprivation leads to HPA axis hyperactivity in rats (Liu et al, 1997 ;Meaney et al, 1988Meaney et al, , 1989Viau et al, 1993).…”

Gene–environment interaction affects substance P and neurokinin A in the entorhinal cortex and periaqueductal grey in a genetic animal model of depression: implications for the pathophysiology of depression

“…Previous investigations of the biological consequences of early maternal deprivation have employed healthy experimental animals. Such studies have reported increased CRHmRNA and immunoreactivity levels in the hypothalamus, adrenal hypertrophy, and a prolonged stress-induced ACTH and corticosterone response (Heim et al, 1997 ;Husum and Mathé, 2002 ;Kalin and Carnes, 1984 ;Ladd et al, 1996 ;Meaney et al, 1988 ;Penke et al, 2001 ;Pihoker et al, 1993 ;Plotsky and Meaney, 1993 ;Rots et al, 1996). These reports suggest that maternal deprivation leads to HPA axis hyperactivity in rats (Liu et al, 1997 ;Meaney et al, 1988Meaney et al, , 1989Viau et al, 1993).…”

Maternal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis response to foraging uncertainty: A model of individual vs. social allostasis and the "Superorganism Hypothesis"

“…Because we elected not to intervene during VFD so as not to disturb the experimental process, we are unable to assess the rate and pattern of maternal cortisol secretion that together comprise the divergent forms of cortisol response observed in response to VFD exposure. Moreover, more detailed HPA axis studies, such as the dexamethasone suppression tests with or without CRF administration [ 57 , 58 ] may have shed light on pathophysiological mechanisms in the current study [ 59 ]. Our main goal, however, was to obtain measures that were reflective of ambient glucocorticoid function within the context of the VFD stressor.…”

Social rearing effects on HPA axis activity over early development and in response to stress in rhesus monkeys

“…There was a significant elevation in cortisol and a near-significant increase in ACTH in response to this transition. Many studies have pointed to the substantial stress responses reliably observed in nonhuman primates following separation from rearing partners (Coe, Glass, & Weiner, 1983;Coe et al, 1989;Coe, Mendoza, Smotherman, & Levine, 1978;Gunnar, Gonzalez, & Levine, 1980), and in fact, such studies have been used as models of human bereavement (Kalin & Carnes, 1984;Laudenslager, 1988; Reite & Short, 1983). There is also considerable data indicating that forced introduction to strangers via group formation is also quite stressful for nonhuman primates (Bernstein, Gordon, & Rose, 1974;Bernstein, Rose, Gordon, & Grady, 1979;Fairbanks, McGuire, & Kerber, 1977;Goo & Sassenrath, 1980).…”

Gene–environment interaction affects substance P and neurokinin A in the entorhinal cortex and periaqueductal grey in a genetic animal model of depression: implications for the pathophysiology of depression

“…Previous investigations of the biological consequences of early maternal deprivation have employed healthy experimental animals. Such studies have reported increased CRHmRNA and immunoreactivity levels in the hypothalamus, adrenal hypertrophy, and a prolonged stress-induced ACTH and corticosterone response (Heim et al, 1997 ;Husum and Mathé, 2002 ;Kalin and Carnes, 1984 ;Ladd et al, 1996 ;Meaney et al, 1988 ;Penke et al, 2001 ;Pihoker et al, 1993 ;Plotsky and Meaney, 1993 ;Rots et al, 1996). These reports suggest that maternal deprivation leads to HPA axis hyperactivity in rats (Liu et al, 1997 ;Meaney et al, 1988Meaney et al, , 1989Viau et al, 1993).…”

Maternal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis response to foraging uncertainty: A model of individual vs. social allostasis and the "Superorganism Hypothesis"

“…Because we elected not to intervene during VFD so as not to disturb the experimental process, we are unable to assess the rate and pattern of maternal cortisol secretion that together comprise the divergent forms of cortisol response observed in response to VFD exposure. Moreover, more detailed HPA axis studies, such as the dexamethasone suppression tests with or without CRF administration [ 57 , 58 ] may have shed light on pathophysiological mechanisms in the current study [ 59 ]. Our main goal, however, was to obtain measures that were reflective of ambient glucocorticoid function within the context of the VFD stressor.…”

Social rearing effects on HPA axis activity over early development and in response to stress in rhesus monkeys

“…There was a significant elevation in cortisol and a near-significant increase in ACTH in response to this transition. Many studies have pointed to the substantial stress responses reliably observed in nonhuman primates following separation from rearing partners (Coe, Glass, & Weiner, 1983;Coe et al, 1989;Coe, Mendoza, Smotherman, & Levine, 1978;Gunnar, Gonzalez, & Levine, 1980), and in fact, such studies have been used as models of human bereavement (Kalin & Carnes, 1984;Laudenslager, 1988; Reite & Short, 1983). There is also considerable data indicating that forced introduction to strangers via group formation is also quite stressful for nonhuman primates (Bernstein, Gordon, & Rose, 1974;Bernstein, Rose, Gordon, & Grady, 1979;Fairbanks, McGuire, & Kerber, 1977;Goo & Sassenrath, 1980).…”

Gene–environment interaction affects substance P and neurokinin A in the entorhinal cortex and periaqueductal grey in a genetic animal model of depression: implications for the pathophysiology of depression

“…Previous investigations of the biological consequences of early maternal deprivation have employed healthy experimental animals. Such studies have reported increased CRHmRNA and immunoreactivity levels in the hypothalamus, adrenal hypertrophy, and a prolonged stress-induced ACTH and corticosterone response (Heim et al, 1997 ;Husum and Mathé, 2002 ;Kalin and Carnes, 1984 ;Ladd et al, 1996 ;Meaney et al, 1988 ;Penke et al, 2001 ;Pihoker et al, 1993 ;Plotsky and Meaney, 1993 ;Rots et al, 1996). These reports suggest that maternal deprivation leads to HPA axis hyperactivity in rats (Liu et al, 1997 ;Meaney et al, 1988Meaney et al, , 1989Viau et al, 1993).…”

Maternal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis response to foraging uncertainty: A model of individual vs. social allostasis and the "Superorganism Hypothesis"

“…Because we elected not to intervene during VFD so as not to disturb the experimental process, we are unable to assess the rate and pattern of maternal cortisol secretion that together comprise the divergent forms of cortisol response observed in response to VFD exposure. Moreover, more detailed HPA axis studies, such as the dexamethasone suppression tests with or without CRF administration [ 57 , 58 ] may have shed light on pathophysiological mechanisms in the current study [ 59 ]. Our main goal, however, was to obtain measures that were reflective of ambient glucocorticoid function within the context of the VFD stressor.…”

Social rearing effects on HPA axis activity over early development and in response to stress in rhesus monkeys

“…There was a significant elevation in cortisol and a near-significant increase in ACTH in response to this transition. Many studies have pointed to the substantial stress responses reliably observed in nonhuman primates following separation from rearing partners (Coe, Glass, & Weiner, 1983;Coe et al, 1989;Coe, Mendoza, Smotherman, & Levine, 1978;Gunnar, Gonzalez, & Levine, 1980), and in fact, such studies have been used as models of human bereavement (Kalin & Carnes, 1984;Laudenslager, 1988; Reite & Short, 1983). There is also considerable data indicating that forced introduction to strangers via group formation is also quite stressful for nonhuman primates (Bernstein, Gordon, & Rose, 1974;Bernstein, Rose, Gordon, & Grady, 1979;Fairbanks, McGuire, & Kerber, 1977;Goo & Sassenrath, 1980).…”