Communal nesting exerts epigenetic influences on affective and social behaviors in rats selectively bred for an infantile trait

Martinez, Ashley R.; Brunelli, Susan A.; Zimmerberg, Betty

doi:10.1016/j.physbeh.2014.11.007

Cited by 14 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…Whereas, in mice, communal rearing actually led to an increase in anxiety in adulthood, in rats, the opposite effect was seen. Rats reared communally showed significantly reduced levels of anxiety (Branchi and Alleva, 2006; Branchi et al, 2006; Martinez et al, 2015). Anxiety in these studies was measured using either an open-field or ‘elevated plus’ maze, both of which are tests assessing the conflict between exploration of novel environments and fear of open spaces.…”

Section: Rats and Mice As Models For Human Neurological And Psychiatrmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rodent models in neuroscience research: is it a rat race?

Ellenbroek

Youn

2016

Disease Models &Amp; Mechanisms

467

359

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Rodents (especially Mus musculus and Rattus norvegicus) have been the most widely used models in biomedical research for many years. A notable shift has taken place over the last two decades, with mice taking a more and more prominent role in biomedical science compared to rats. This shift was primarily instigated by the availability of a much larger genetic toolbox for mice, particularly embryonic-stem-cell-based targeting technology for gene disruption. With the recent emergence of tools for altering the rat genome, notably genome-editing technologies, the technological gap between the two organisms is closing, and it is becoming more important to consider the physiological, anatomical, biochemical and pharmacological differences between rats and mice when choosing the right model system for a specific biological question. The aim of this short review and accompanying poster is to highlight some of the most important differences, and to discuss their impact on studies of human diseases, with a special focus on neuropsychiatric disorders.

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Section: Rats and Mice As Models For Human Neurological And Psychiatrmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rodent models in neuroscience research: is it a rat race?

Ellenbroek

Youn

2016

Disease Models &Amp; Mechanisms

467

359

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“…In the CN model, multiple mothers raise more pups, meaning that pups are more exposed to diverse social stimuli. Compared to standard reared, the CN offspring in adulthood showed more social interactivity in task activities, less anxious behavior in the open domain, and more escape attempts in the forced swimming task (Curley et al, 2009 ; Martinez et al, 2015 ). Therefore, early EE was mainly focused on physical exercise in pregnancy and more targeted sensory and social stimulation in lactation to promote offspring neural development and neural circuit construction.…”

Section: The Effects Of Ee On Neurodevelopment In Brainmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of enriched environment in neural development and repair

Yuan

Guo

Shen

et al. 2022

Front. Cell. Neurosci.

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In addition to genetic information, environmental factors play an important role in the structure and function of nervous system and the occurrence and development of some nervous system diseases. Enriched environment (EE) can not only promote normal neural development through enhancing neuroplasticity but also play a nerve repair role in restoring functional activities during CNS injury by morphological and cellular and molecular adaptations in the brain. Different stages of development after birth respond to the environment to varying degrees. Therefore, we systematically review the pro-developmental and anti-stress value of EE during pregnancy, pre-weaning, and “adolescence” and analyze the difference in the effects of EE and its sub-components, especially with physical exercise. In our exploration of potential mechanisms that promote neurodevelopment, we have found that not all sub-components exert maximum value throughout the developmental phase, such as animals that do not respond to physical activity before weaning, and that EE is not superior to its sub-components in all respects. EE affects the developing and adult brain, resulting in some neuroplastic changes in the microscopic and macroscopic anatomy, finally contributing to enhanced learning and memory capacity. These positive promoting influences are particularly prominent regarding neural repair after neurobiological disorders. Taking cerebral ischemia as an example, we analyzed the molecular mediators of EE promoting repair from various dimensions. We found that EE does not always lead to positive effects on nerve repair, such as infarct size. In view of the classic issues such as standardization and relativity of EE have been thoroughly discussed, we finally focus on analyzing the essentiality of the time window of EE action and clinical translation in order to devote to the future research direction of EE and rapid and reasonable clinical application.

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“…Another solution to promote the transmission of behavioral skills and probably microbiota and initiating positive epigenetic marks is communal nesting (CN) for species in which it is possible (Martinez et al 2015). Indeed, CN was identified as a favorable configuration that enhanced sociality and brain development in mice (Branchi, 2009).…”

Section: How To Use Extended Heritability For Selection In Livestock mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…non-exhaustive list of references 1 Mulder et al, 2009. 2 Bredy et al, 2003, Val-Laillet et al, 2019, Hemsworth and Coleman, 2010; Hemsworth and Barnett, 2000. 3, 4 Branchi et al, 2006; Curley et al, 2008; Franklin et al, 2010; Thompson and Holmes, 2009; Abecia et al, 2007; Daft et al, 2015; Bian et al, 2016. 5 Branchi, 2009; Van Nieuwamerongen et al, 2014; Martinez et al, 2015. 6 Oh et al, 2018; Kjaer and Vestergaard, 1999; Moinard et al, 2001; Manser, 1996. 7 Guardia et al, 2011; Marchewka et al, 2013; Cronin et al, 2014. 8 Abe et al, 2018; Johnson, 2018; Parois et al, 2018; Schütz et al, 2008. 9 Schneitz, 2005, Le Floc’h et al, 2014; Combes et al, 2017, Schütz et al, 2019; Renaudeau, 2009. 10 Le Bourgot et al, 2014; Buddington et al, 2010; Wang et al, 2016. 11 Murdoch et al, 2016; Le Floc’h et al, 2014; Combes et al, 2017; Lawrence et al, 1993. 12 Murdoch et al, 2016; Nicholas and Ozanne, 2019; Vasaï; et al, 2014; Van Barneveld, 2013.…”

Section: How To Use Extended Heritability For Selection In Livestock mentioning

confidence: 99%

Intergenerational Transmission of Characters Through Genetics, Epigenetics, Microbiota, and Learning in Livestock

et al. 2019

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Evolutionary biologists studying wild species have demonstrated that genetic and non-genetic sources of information are inherited across generations and are therefore responsible for phenotypic resemblance between relatives. Although it has been postulated that non-genetic sources of inheritance are important in natural selection, they are not taken into account for livestock selection that is based on genetic inheritance only. According to the natural selection theory, the contribution of non-genetic inheritance may be significant for the transmission of characters. If this theory is confirmed in livestock, not considering non-genetic means of transmission in selection schemes might prevent achieving maximum progress in the livestock populations being selected. The present discussion paper reviews the different mechanisms of genetic and non-genetic inheritance reported in the literature as occurring in livestock species. Non-genetic sources of inheritance comprise information transmitted via physical means, such as epigenetic and microbiota inheritance, and those transmitted via learning mechanisms: behavioral, cultural and ecological inheritance. In the first part of this paper we review the evidence that suggests that both genetic and non-genetic information contribute to inheritance in livestock (i.e. transmitted from one generation to the next and causing phenotypic differences between individuals) and discuss how the environment may influence non-genetic inherited factors. Then, in a second step, we consider methods for favoring the transmission of non-genetic inherited factors by estimating and selecting animals on their extended transmissible value and/or introducing favorable non-genetic factors via the animals’ environment.

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Communal nesting exerts epigenetic influences on affective and social behaviors in rats selectively bred for an infantile trait

Cited by 14 publications

References 32 publications

Rodent models in neuroscience research: is it a rat race?

Rodent models in neuroscience research: is it a rat race?

The role of enriched environment in neural development and repair

Intergenerational Transmission of Characters Through Genetics, Epigenetics, Microbiota, and Learning in Livestock

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