Corticosterone levels and behavioral changes induced by simultaneous exposure to chronic social stress and enriched environments in NMRI male mice

Mesa-Gresa, Patricia; Ramos-Campos, Marta; Redolat, Rosa

doi:10.1016/j.physbeh.2016.02.027

Cited by 25 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 108 publications

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“…Although previous findings suggest that animals exposed to enriched environments typically display diminished spontaneous locomotor activity when evaluated with the actimeter (Mesa-Gresa et al, 2013b), no significant differences between groups were observed in the current study. This finding does not agree with findings obtained in previous studies that indicate a more rapid habituation to new environments in mice exposed to a completely enriched environment (Mesa-Gresa et al, 2016) or to a rearing environment that includes voluntary access to running wheels. This discrepancy could be related to the longer rearing period in the current study (i.e., 7 weeks) than in previous experiments (Mesa-Gresa et al, 2013b), and to the age of the mice at the exposure to the behavioural tasks.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

Physical activity and environmental enrichment: Behavioural effects of exposure to different housing conditions in mice

Rabadán¹,

Ramos-Campos²,

Redolat³

et al. 2020

Acta Neurobiologiae Experimentalis

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Enriched environments and exercise provide complex environmental stimulation that can induce emotional and cognitive changes; however, few studies have evaluated the effects of these two components on other behaviours, such as novelty seeking or pain sensitivity. The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of voluntary physical activity provided through different housing conditions on anxiety, locomotor activity, pain sensitivity, and exploration. Male mice at postnatal day (PND) 21 and were randomly assigned to one of four different conditions on PND 28: Marlau cages (MC), a standardized cage designed to provide a complex environment; physical exercise in large groups (PE-8); physical exercise in small groups (PE-4); or a standard environment (SE). After seven weeks, animals were evaluated in the hole-board task, the elevated zero maze, actimeter, and hot plate test. In the hole-board task, MC animals displayed more exploration than animals in the PE-8 and PE-4 groups, but no significant differences were observed between groups in the actimeter. In the elevated zero maze, MC and PE-8 animals exhibited an anxiogenic-like profile as compared to the SE group. When pain sensitivity was evaluated, the PE-8 group displayed a higher sensitivity to noxious thermal stimuli than the SE group. These data suggest that the complexity of the environment in which physical activity and environmental stimulation are provided can influence animal behaviours such as novelty seeking, emotional response, and pain sensitivity. These animal models could be useful for designing more personalized interventions that include physical, social, and cognitive stimulation to promote a more active lifestyle in humans. Such interventions could be useful in the prevention and treatment of aging-related decline or neurodegenerative diseases.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

Physical activity and environmental enrichment: Behavioural effects of exposure to different housing conditions in mice

Rabadán¹,

Ramos-Campos²,

Redolat³

et al. 2020

Acta Neurobiologiae Experimentalis

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“…In the same way, Mesa-Gresa et al [65] also failed to find effects of social stress in the NOR task using this measure. On the other hand, the analyses of the total time spent by animals in exploring both objects during the test phase revealed that non-stressed and resilient groups spent longer investigating the novel than the familiar object, whereas susceptible animals spent a similar amount of time exploring both objects.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 73%

Indomethacin counteracts the effects of chronic social defeat stress on emotional but not recognition memory in mice

2017

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We have previously observed the impairing effects of chronic social defeat stress (CSDS) on emotional memory in mice. Given the relation between stress and inflammatory processes, we sought to study the effectiveness of the anti-inflammatory indomethacin in reversing the detrimental effects of CSDS on emotional memory in mice. The effects of CSDS and indomethacin on recognition memory were also evaluated. Male CD1 mice were randomly divided into four groups: non-stressed + saline (NS+SAL); non-stressed + indomethacin (NS+IND); stressed + saline (S+SAL); and stressed + indomethacin (S+IND). Stressed animals were exposed to a daily 10 min agonistic confrontation (CSDS) for 20 days. All subjects were treated daily with saline or indomethacin (10 mg/kg, i.p.). 24 h after the CSDS period, all the mice were evaluated in a social interaction test to distinguish between those that were resilient or susceptible to social stress. All subjects (n = 10–12 per group) were then evaluated in inhibitory avoidance (IA), novel object recognition (NOR), elevated plus maze and hot plate tests. As in control animals (NS+SAL group), IA learning was observed in the resilient groups, as well as in the susceptible mice treated with indomethacin (S+IND group). Recognition memory was observed in the non-stressed and the resilient mice, but not in the susceptible animals. Also, stressed mice exhibited higher anxiety levels. No significant differences were observed in locomotor activity or analgesia. In conclusion, CSDS induces anxiety in post-pubertal mice and impairs emotional and recognition memory in the susceptible subjects. The effects of CSDS on emotional memory, but not on recognition memory and anxiety, are reversed by indomethacin. Moreover, memory impairment is not secondary to the effects of CSDS on locomotor activity, emotionality or pain sensitivity.

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“…Previous studies have used urine corticosterone ELISAs to measure stress in mice [53,34]. Urine samples were collected from mice using Fitchett's method [19] immediately following the Open Field Test during both the pre-stress and post-stress sessions.…”

Section: Urine Corticosterone Elisamentioning

confidence: 99%

Making Good Choices: Social Interaction in Mice Mitigates Chronic Stress-Induced Adaptive Changes in Decision Making

Rakshasa

Tong

2020

Preprint

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Chronic stress can impact decision-making and lead to a preference for immediate rewards rather than long-term payoffs. Factors that may mitigate these effects of chronic stress on decision-making are under-explored. Here we used a mouse model to investigate the changes in decision-making caused by the experience of chronic stress and the role of social interaction in attenuating these changes. To test decision-making, mice were trained to perform a Cost-Benefit Conflict (CBC) task on a T-maze, in which they could choose between a high-reward, high-risk alternative and a low-reward, low-risk alternative.Mice were either housed in groups or alone throughout the experiment. Both groups of mice underwent a seven-day period of repeated immobilisation to induce chronic stress. Stress levels were confirmed using behavioural (open field test) and physiological (urine corticosterone ELISA) measures. We found a significant increase in frequency of high-risk decisions after exposure to chronic stress among both sociallyand individually-housed mice. Crucially, socially-housed mice showed a significantly smaller increase in high-risk decision-making compared to singly-housed mice. These findings suggest that although chronic stress leads to an increase in high-risk decision-making in mice, access to social interaction may mitigate this stress effect.

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Corticosterone levels and behavioral changes induced by simultaneous exposure to chronic social stress and enriched environments in NMRI male mice

Cited by 25 publications

References 108 publications

Physical activity and environmental enrichment: Behavioural effects of exposure to different housing conditions in mice

Physical activity and environmental enrichment: Behavioural effects of exposure to different housing conditions in mice

Indomethacin counteracts the effects of chronic social defeat stress on emotional but not recognition memory in mice

Making Good Choices: Social Interaction in Mice Mitigates Chronic Stress-Induced Adaptive Changes in Decision Making

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