Effects of early social experience on activity and object investigation in the ferret

Chivers, Susan M.; Einon, Dorothy

doi:10.1002/dev.420150111

Cited by 12 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 7 publications

(4 reference statements)

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“…In agreement with our findings, previous studies showed reduced social activities/preference in MIA rodents ( Shi et al, 2003 ; Smith et al, 2007 ; Bitanihirwe et al, 2010 ; Malkova et al, 2012 ). Ferrets are social animals and social behaviors are important for the development and maintenance of other behaviors ( Chivers and Einon, 1982 ; Boyce et al, 2001 ). Besides affecting interactions with conspecifics, MIA also impaired interactions with humans (reduced eye contact tolerance).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Maternal Immune Activation Alters Adult Behavior, Gut Microbiome and Juvenile Brain Oscillations in Ferrets

Dugyala

Ptacek

et al. 2018

eNeuro

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Maternal immune activation (MIA) has been identified as a causal factor in psychiatric disorders by epidemiological studies in humans and mechanistic studies in rodent models. Addressing this gap in species between mice and human will accelerate the understanding of the role of MIA in the etiology of psychiatric disorders. Here, we provide the first study of MIA in the ferret (Mustela putorius furo), an animal model with a rich history of developmental investigations due to the similarities in developmental programs and cortical organization with primates. We found that after MIA by injection of PolyIC in the pregnant mother animal, the adult offspring exhibited reduced social behavior, less eye contact with humans, decreased recognition memory, a sex-specific increase in amphetamine-induced hyperlocomotion, and altered gut microbiome. We also studied the neurophysiological properties of the MIA ferrets in development by in-vivo recordings of the local field potential (LFP) from visual cortex in five- to six-week-old animals, and found that the spontaneous and sensory-evoked LFP had decreased power, especially in the gamma frequency band. Overall, our results provide the first evidence for the detrimental effect of MIA in ferrets and support the use of the ferret as an intermediate model species for the study of disorders with neurodevelopmental origin.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Maternal Immune Activation Alters Adult Behavior, Gut Microbiome and Juvenile Brain Oscillations in Ferrets

Dugyala

Ptacek

et al. 2018

eNeuro

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“…Weiss (1975) gave a general description of play in Polecats: it involves jerky, bouncing movements, inhibited attacks and clumsy movements, and has no obvious function. Social play more closely resembles fighting than any other form of adult behaviour, but there is far more chasing and fleeing, and biting is inhibited (Poole, 1978; see also Lazar & Beckhorn, 1974;Biben, 1982;Chivers & Einon, 1982;Mankovich, 1982).…”

Section: General Behaviourmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biology of the Polecat Mustela putorius: a literature review

1987

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The available literature on the biology of the European Polecat (Mustela putorius) is collated. Aspects covered are general biology and systematics, distribution, physical characteristics, variation, skeletal characteristics, habitat, general behaviour, diet and predatory behaviour, breeding, juvenile development, population structure, mortality, parasites and diseases, relations with man, and history in Britain. Notes on field signs are also included. Recent and current research on Polecats both in Great Britain and on the European continent are then reviewed and some new information is reported. An extended bibliography lists all major and many minor publications on M. putorius, together with selected references to feral Ferrets (M. furo) and Polecat‐Ferrets (M. putorius x M.furo).

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“…An absorbable paper liner may be used in the pan beneath the cage to facilitate daily disposal of urine and feces. Chivers and Einon (1982) found that some of the isolation-induced effects on behavior seen in rats also occurred in ferrets, with deprivation of rough and tumble social play causing hyperactivity that persisted into adulthood. Use of one or two additional pieces of cage board or similar substance within the cage also helps maintain cleanliness, and ferrets enjoy burrowing beneath and between the sheets of paper.…”

Section: Cagingmentioning

confidence: 99%